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Provides for an increase in penalties for obstruction of driver's view or operator's view in a vessel if injury or death results
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Albert A. Stirpe
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the navigation law, in relation to increasing penalties for certain obstructed view for drivers of motor vehicles and operators of vessels that result in injury or death
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that there is an appropriate penalty when there is an obstruction to the operator's view of a motor vehicle or vessel that results in an injury or death.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - Amends section 1213 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a subdivision (c). Subdivision (c) states that it is a class A misdemeanor if one drives while his or her view is obstructed or is a passenger who obstructs a driver's view and the obstruction results in an injury. Additionally, it shall be a class E felony if one drives while his or her view is obstructed or is a passenger who obstructs a driver's view and the obstruction results in death.
Section 2 - Adds a new section 45-e to the Navigation Law by creating a crime of reckless operation of a vessel. Subsection 1 prohibits any passenger from obstructing the view of a vessel operator. Subsection 3 makes any violation of subsections 1or 2 a class A misdemeanor if an injury occurs, and subsection 3 also makes a violation of subsections 1 of 2 a class E felony if a death occurs.
Section 2 - Effective Date
Justification
In August 2007, the reckless operation of a vessel on Oneida Lake contributed to the death of an elderly Central New York man. News reports stated that the Operator of the vessel that accidentally killed the man was "kissing" a female passenger during the moments before the accident. Vessels, like motor vehicles, can be dangerous instruments when not operated with care. New Yorkers deserve to know that fellow motorists and boaters are operating their cars and boats responsibly. This legislation will ensure that those responsible are Punished appropriately when a driver's or boat operator's view is obstructed and the obstruction results in an injury or death.
Prior legislative history
2008: A.9884 Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
November 1 next succeeding the date on which this act shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.