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- Referred to transportation
- Referred to rules
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Prohibits the idling of motor vehicles left unattended
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Ginny Fields
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 prohibiting the idling of motor vehicles left unattended
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation prohibits the idling of any motor vehicle while unattended, with the exception of the following situations: emergency or law enforcement purposes; maintenance, diagnostics, inspections; powering auxiliary equipment; recharging electric and hybrid vehicles; snow removal; farm vehicles; a vehicle within mines or quarries; and in weather conditions of less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 consecutive hours. No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall allow it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key, or placing the transmission in "park" or the gears in "low" or "reverse" if the vehicle has a manual shift. This legislation would fine the violator $50 for the first offense; subsequent offenses shall increase in cost to the offender but are not to exceed $250 and/or not more than 90 day imprisonment.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 1210 of the vehicle and traffic law so that no idling motor vehicle shall be left unattended with the following exemptions: emergency or law enforcement purposes; maintenance, diagnostics, inspections; powering auxiliary equipment; recharging electric and hybrid vehicles; snow removal; farm vehicles; a vehicle within mines or quarries; and in weather conditions of less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 consecutive hours, Section 1 subdivision (e) provides that towing agencies, which remove vehicles unlawfully parked on private property at the request of the owner of that premises, shall immediately notify the local police station having jurisdiction, of the description and the time of removal. Section 1 subdivision (f) provides that the violator is fined $50 for the first offense; and, subsequent offenses shall increase in cost to the offender but are not to exceed $250 and/or not more than 90 day imprisonment.
Read the full memo (606 words)
Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Justification
The idling of unattended cars has lead to numerous deaths all over the United States. These deaths have been caused by accidental crashes as well as carbon monoxide poisonings. Two incidents lead to two separate deaths that could have been avoided by simply turning the car off. The first instance left a man dead when his idling car slipped into gear, and ran him over several times while he stepped out to purchase a newspaper. The second instance left a thirteen month old boy dead when his two year old brother ran over him with his mother's car. An incident involving carbon monoxide poisoning occurred when an elderly couple's vehicle, left running the garage attached adjacent to their home, seeped the deadly gas into their bedroom killing one, and hospitalizing the other. Another tragic incident left two elderly sisters dead when they left their car running in their garage.
This legislation seeks to change New York State's idling law to ban the idling of vehicles while they are left unattended by their operator in order to encourage responsible vehicle operation and prevent unnecessary injuries and/or deaths. This will make New York State drivers more aware of the dangers posed by a car that is left unattended while it is still running. This bill also offers a reasonable consequence for those who choose to put themselves and others at risk. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it 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.