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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
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Restricts the number of passengers under the age of twenty-one when the holder has a class DJ or class MJ learner's permit or license
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Matthew Titone
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, in relation to restrictions on the number of passengers under the age of twenty-one
Purpose
To reduce the number of potential distractions for novice drivers.
Summary of provisions
Amends section 501-b of the Vehicle and Traffic law to reduce the number of eligible passengers that may be transported in a motor vehicle by a class DJ or MJ permit or license holder. Such permit or license holders may carry no more than one passenger who is under the age of twenty-one and who is not a member of such holder's immediate family, unless accompanied by a duly licensed parent, guardian, person in a position of loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor.
Existing law
Section 501-b of the Vehicle and Traffic law provides restrictions on class DJ and class MJ learner's permits and licenses which include prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with more than two passengers who are under the age of twenty-one and who are not members of such holder's immediate family, unless accompanied by a duly licensed parent, guardian, person in a position of loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor.
Justification
Highway safety research indicates that the national crash rate for teenagers is about four times higher than for adults, and traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers. Nationwide, about 6,000 youths aged 16 to 20 die each year in traffic accidents. Teens represent about 7% of the country's population, but constitute approximately 17% of the victims of fatal crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that these high accident rates are not necessarily attributable to a lack either of basic skills or knowledge of driving laws. The problem appears to be more a function of the propensity of young drivers to take risks, their belief that they are invincible, and their susceptibility to peer pressure. This bill would reduce the number of passengers who may contribute to these dangerous situations, while at the same time reduce the number of potential victims should an accident occur.
Legislative history
2008: S.8124 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
60th day after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.