S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6467
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 29, 2021
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Introduced by Sen. BRISPORT -- 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 modifying
what constitutes obstruction to a driver's view or driving mechanism
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 1213 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by
chapter 621 of the laws of 1963, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1213. Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism. (a) No
person shall drive a motor vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there
are in the front seat such number of persons as to SUBSTANTIALLY
obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or
as to SUBSTANTIALLY interfere with the driver's control over the driving
mechanism of the vehicle. In no event shall there be more than three
persons in the front seat of any vehicle, except where such seat has
been constructed to accommodate more than three persons and there is
eighteen inches of seating capacity for each passenger or occupant in
said front seat.
(b) No passenger in a vehicle shall ride in such a position as to
SUBSTANTIALLY interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the sides, or
to SUBSTANTIALLY interfere with his OR HER control over the driving
mechanism of the vehicle.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
HANGING OF AIR FRESHENERS AND OTHER DEVICES FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS
EXPLICITLY PERMITTED AND SHALL NOT PROVIDE A BASIS FOR A TRAFFIC STOP,
FINE, FEE OR ANY PENALTY WHATSOEVER.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11164-01-1