Senate Bill S1632A

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Prohibits operation of any motor vehicle equipped with any device which affects the operation of traffic-control signals

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

Do you support this bill?

Please enter your contact information

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.
Actions
Votes

Bill Amendments

2019-S1632 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A3625
Current Committee:
Assembly Transportation
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§154-a & 397-c, amd §1115, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S1807, A2791
2011-2012: S1208, A1638, A10245
2013-2014: S3994, A1269
2015-2016: S2203, A1015
2017-2018: S3249, A278
2021-2022: S1637, A6518
2023-2024: S1157, A8056

2019-S1632 - Summary

Prohibits the operation of any motor vehicle equipped with a device which affects the operation of traffic-control signals; provides that the possession of such a device shall constitute a traffic infraction, use thereof is a class A misdemeanor, and use which results in personal injury or death shall constitute a class E felony.

2019-S1632 - Sponsor Memo

2019-S1632 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1632
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 15, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  prohibiting
   the use of any device which affects the operation of a traffic-control
   signal

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 397-c to read as follows:
   §  397-C.  INTERFERENCE  WITH  A  TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL. 1. NO PERSON
 SHALL OPERATE ANY MOTOR VEHICLE, EXCEPT AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY  VEHICLE
 OR  AUTHORIZED  PUBLIC  TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, WHICH HE OR SHE KNOWS IS
 EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE CAPABLE OF AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF ANY  TRAFF-
 IC-CONTROL  SIGNAL.  THE  PRESENCE  IN  A MOTOR VEHICLE OF SUCH A DEVICE
 CONNECTED TO A POWER SOURCE AND IN AN OPERABLE CONDITION IS  PRESUMPTIVE
 EVIDENCE  OF  THE  OPERATOR'S  KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE. SUCH PRESUMPTION
 SHALL BE REBUTTED BY ANY CREDITABLE EVIDENCE WHICH TENDS  TO  SHOW  THAT
 THE  OPERATOR OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF SUCH
 DEVICE.
   2. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY PERSON  USING
 SUCH A DEVICE WHILE ENGAGED IN THE AUTHORIZED MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR OF A
 TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL.
   3.  A  VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A
 TRAFFIC INFRACTION PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT  LESS  THAN  ONE  HUNDRED
 DOLLARS NOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
   4.   A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION WHILE USING SUCH A
 DEVICE TO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF A TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL SHALL CONSTI-
 TUTE A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR.
   5. A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION WHILE USING  SUCH  A
 DEVICE  TO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF A TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL AND SUCH USE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00309-01-9
              

co-Sponsors

2019-S1632A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A3625
Current Committee:
Assembly Transportation
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Add §§154-a & 397-c, amd §1115, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S1807, A2791
2011-2012: S1208, A1638, A10245
2013-2014: S3994, A1269
2015-2016: S2203, A1015
2017-2018: S3249, A278
2021-2022: S1637, A6518
2023-2024: S1157, A8056

2019-S1632A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the operation of any motor vehicle equipped with a device which affects the operation of traffic-control signals; provides that the possession of such a device shall constitute a traffic infraction, use thereof is a class A misdemeanor, and use which results in personal injury or death shall constitute a class E felony.

2019-S1632A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S1632A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1632--A
     Cal. No. 53
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 15, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported
   favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second  report,
   ordered  to  a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining
   its place in the order of third reading

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  prohibiting
   the use of any device which affects the operation of a traffic-control
   signal
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 154-a to read as follows:
   §  154-A.    TRAFFIC-CONTROL  SIGNAL  PREEMPTION  DEVICE.  ANY  DEVICE
 DESIGNED OR USED TO CHANGE OR ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE  SIGNAL  INDICATIONS
 OF  A  TRAFFIC-CONTROL  SIGNAL  OR  TRAFFIC-CONTROL  DEVICE.  THIS SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A MOBILE INFRARED TRANSMITTER  OR  OTHER
 DEVICE  THAT  IS  CAPABLE OF SENDING A SIGNAL THAT INTERRUPTS OR CHANGES
 THE SEQUENCE PATTERNS OF AN OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE OR  TRAFFIC-
 CONTROL SIGNAL.
   §  2.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 397-c to read as follows:
   § 397-C. UNAUTHORIZED SALE, PURCHASE, OR USE OF TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL
 PREEMPTION DEVICE.
   1. NO PERSON SHALL BUY, POSSESS, MANUFACTURE, INSTALL, SELL, OFFER FOR
 SALE,  OR  OTHERWISE  DISTRIBUTE  A  TRAFFIC-CONTROL  SIGNAL  PREEMPTION
 DEVICE,  UNLESS  THE  PURCHASE,  POSSESSION,  MANUFACTURE, INSTALLATION,
 SALE, OFFER FOR SALE, OR DISTRIBUTION IS FOR USE OF  THE  DEVICE  BY  AN
 AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE.
   2.  (A) EXCLUDING AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE OR AUTHORIZED PUBLIC
 TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE OPERATING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL
 DUTIES, NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH HE OR SHE  KNOWS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.