Assembly Bill A4546

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to requiring drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow or recovery trucks, or highway maintenance vehicles to switch lanes or reduce the speed of a motor vehicle

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current 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

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2023-A4546 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Transportation
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §1144, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: A7423
2011-2012: A3568
2013-2014: A3848
2015-2016: A2039
2017-2018: A811
2019-2020: A3108
2021-2022: A1417

2023-A4546 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires a driver approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow or recovery trucks, or highway maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights to switch lanes or reduce the speed of the driver's vehicle, and be prepared to stop the vehicle; institutes a fine for failing to move over or slow down.

2023-A4546 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4546
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 16, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring an
   operator of a motor vehicle approaching stationary emergency vehicles,
   tow or recovery trucks, or highway maintenance vehicles on the roadway
   to switch lanes or reduce the speed of a motor vehicle
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Subdivision (b) of section 1144 of the vehicle and traffic
 law, as amended by chapter 300 of the laws of 1960, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   (b)  THE  OPERATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE APPROACHING A STATIONARY AUTHOR-
 IZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE THAT DISPLAYS FLASHING YELLOW, AMBER, WHITE,  RED
 OR  BLUE  LIGHTS, OR A STATIONARY TOW VEHICLE OR A RECOVERY VEHICLE THAT
 DISPLAYS FLASHING LIGHTS WHILE PERFORMING A RECOVERY OR LOADING  ON  THE
 ROADSIDE,  OR  A  STATIONARY  HIGHWAY  MAINTENANCE VEHICLE THAT DISPLAYS
 FLASHING LIGHTS, SHALL APPROACH SUCH  EMERGENCY  VEHICLE,  TOW  VEHICLE,
 RECOVERY  VEHICLE  OR  HIGHWAY  MAINTENANCE VEHICLE WITH DUE CAUTION AND
 SHALL, ABSENT ANY OTHER DIRECTION BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER,  PROCEED
 AS FOLLOWS:
   (1)  IF  EXISTING  SAFETY  AND  TRAFFIC CONDITIONS PERMIT, MAKE A LANE
 CHANGE INTO A LANE NOT ADJACENT TO SUCH VEHICLES; OR
   (2) IF A LANE CHANGE PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBDIVISION  IS
 NOT POSSIBLE, REDUCE THE SPEED OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE TO A REASONABLE AND
 PROPER  SPEED  FOR  EXISTING  ROAD  AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, AND SHALL BE
 PREPARED TO STOP SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE.
   VIOLATION OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY  A  FINE  NOT  TO
 EXCEED  ONE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  THE FIRST VIOLATION AND FIVE HUNDRED
 DOLLARS FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09501-01-3
 A. 4546                             2

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