BILL NUMBER: S6815

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to an affirma-
tive defense for bus lane restrictions in New York city

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill will ensure affirmative defense for metropolitan transporta-
tion employees operating in the scope of assigned duties who receive bus
lane traffic infractions

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends 1111-C of the vehicle and traffic law to provide metro-
politan transportation employees affirmative defense whilst operating an
authorized employer motor vehicle in a bus lane parking violation and
conducting lawful business in a bus lane.

Section 2 is an immediate effective date; provided, however, that the
              

amendments to section 1111-c of the vehicle and traffic law made by
section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and
shall be deemed repealed therewith.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Metropolitan transportation authority (MTA) employees have been receiv-
ing parking fines for conducting lawful business in New York city bus
lanes. Taking off work to address these fines has been onerous to
employees and the authority. This bill will provide employees an affir-
mative defense to address the fines without being present in court. As
such, employees who cannot state they were conducting business for the
agency in a bus lane would still be found liable for violating the
City's parking code (ie. grabbing coffee, etc etc.). This bill will
further ensure that MTA employees can do their job without the undue
burden of parking fines in the scope of their assigned duties.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

N/A

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the
amendments to section 1111-c of the vehicle and traffic law made by
section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and
shall be deemed repealed therewith.