S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7196
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CHANDLER-WATERMAN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to permitting
the exchange of drivers licenses from certain countries
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-A. LICENSE EXCHANGE FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ACCEPT AS VALID FOR
PURPOSES OF IDENTIFICATION, AGE AND EXAMINATION A DRIVER'S LICENSE
ISSUED FROM A COUNTRY LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION AND
SHALL ISSUE A LICENSE TO DRIVE IN THIS STATE TO AN INDIVIDUAL HOLDING A
LICENSE DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, PROVIDED HOWEV-
ER, THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND THE
VISION TEST REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION.
(B) A DRIVERS LICENSE ISSUED BY THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES
SHALL BE VALID FOR PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
ANGUILLA, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, ARUBA, BAHAMAS, BARBADOS, BONAIRE, BRIT-
ISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, CAYMAN ISLANDS, CUBA, CURACAO, DOMINICA, DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC, GRENADA, GUADELOUPE, GUYANA, HAITI, JAMAICA, MARTINIQUE, MONT-
SERRAT, PUERTO RICO, SABA, SAINT BARTHELEMY, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS,
SAINT LUCIA, SAINT MARTIN, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, SINT EUSTA-
TIUS, SINT MAARTEN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, AND
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES.
(C) A LICENSE ISSUED BY A COUNTRY LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE IF IT: IS VALID OR HAS
EXPIRED WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS; STATES THE DATE UPON WHICH IT WAS
ISSUED AND IT WAS ISSUED A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THE APPLICATION; AND IS NOT SUSPENDED, REVOKED, LOST OR STOLEN.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06056-01-5
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.