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Assembly Bill A9291A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Prohibits the use of virtual reality headsets while operating a motor vehicle

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

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Bill Amendments

2023-A9291 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8534
Current Committee:
Assembly Rules
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §375, V & T L
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:
S3197

2023-A9291 - Summary

Prohibits the use of virtual reality headsets while operating a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle.

2023-A9291 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9291
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 23, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  prohibiting
   the use of virtual reality headsets while operating a motor vehicle
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of  section  1225-d  of  the
 vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 8 of part C of chapter 58
 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   (a) "Portable electronic device" shall mean any hand-held mobile tele-
 phone,  as  defined by subdivision one of section twelve hundred twenty-
 five-c of this  article,  personal  digital  assistant  (PDA),  handheld
 device  with  mobile  data  access,  laptop  computer,  pager, broadband
 personal communication  device,  two-way  messaging  device,  electronic
 game,  VIRTUAL  REALITY  HEADSET,  or  portable computing device, or any
 other electronic device when used to input,  write,  send,  receive,  or
 read text for present or future communication.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14462-01-4

2023-A9291A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8534
Current Committee:
Assembly Rules
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §375, V & T L
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:
S3197

2023-A9291A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the use of virtual reality headsets while operating a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or bicycle.

2023-A9291A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  9291--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 23, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  prohibiting
   the use of virtual reality headsets while operating a motor vehicle

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 24-a of section 375 of the vehicle and  traffic
 law,  as added by chapter 604 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as
 follows:
   24-a. It shall be unlawful to operate upon any public highway in  this
 state a motor vehicle, limited use automobile, limited use motorcycle or
 bicycle while the operator is wearing more than one earphone attached to
 a radio, tape player or other audio device OR IS WEARING A VIRTUAL REAL-
 ITY HEADSET.
   §  2.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14462-02-4

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