S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10261
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the use of
vehicle-mounted variable message signs by emergency roadside service
vehicles, tow trucks and highway assistance vehicles
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 1229-e to read as follows:
§ 1229-E. VEHICLE-MOUNTED VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS ON EMERGENCY ROAD
SERVICE VEHICLES, TOW TRUCKS AND HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE VEHICLES. VEHICLE-
MOUNTED VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS ARE AUTHORIZED TO BE USED ON EMERGENCY
ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLES, TOW TRUCKS AND HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE VEHICLES
WHEN SUCH EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLES, TOW TRUCKS AND HIGHWAY
ASSISTANCE VEHICLES ARE RESPONDING TO ROADSIDE EMERGENCIES OR DISABLED
VEHICLES, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:
1. A VEHICLE-MOUNTED VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN SHALL ONLY BE USED ON AN
EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLE, TOW TRUCK OR HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE
VEHICLE WHEN SUCH EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLE, TOW TRUCK OR HIGH-
WAY ASSISTANCE VEHICLE IS LAWFULLY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OR AT THE
ROADSIDE;
2. A VEHICLE-MOUNTED VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN SHALL ONLY BE USED ON AN
EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLE, TOW TRUCK OR HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE
VEHICLE FOR SAFETY-RELATED COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING "SLOW DOWN/MOVE
OVER" AND DIRECTIONAL ARROWS CONSISTENT WITH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAF-
FIC SAFETY STANDARDS; AND
3. NO VEHICLE-MOUNTED VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN SHALL BE USED ON AN EMER-
GENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE VEHICLE, TOW TRUCK OR HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE VEHICLE
FOR ADVERTISING OR GENERAL TRAFFIC CONTROL PURPOSES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14830-01-6
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