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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
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Requires operators of motor vehicles to take due care to avoid colliding with a tow truck or operator thereof while in hazardous operation
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Joseph Morelle
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 tow truck operator safety
Purpose
To protect tow truck operators by requiring operators of motor vehicles to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a tow truck or operator while they are performing a vehicle removal.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds section 1212-a to the vehicle and traffic law, requiring that motor vehicle operators exercise due care to avoid colliding with a tow truck, or operator thereof, which is parked, stopped, or standing on the shoulder or any portion of such highway and is engaged in hazardous operation. Also details legal recourse for persons found to be in violation of this section.
Section 2 requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to create and implement an educational program to inform motor vehicle operators in this state of the requirements in section 1.
Section 3 is the effective date.
Existing law
Currently there are no laws that detail a proper procedure for overtaking a tow truck that is engaged in hazardous operation.
Justification
Tow truck operators perform duties in the course of their job that are necessary in our automotive dependent society. Often-times, these operators work in very dangerous and precarious positions, at all hours of the day and night, literally risking life and limb to help stranded motorists remove broken down vehicles from our roads. Tow truck operators deserve the same rights of protection that are afforded to road workers, as they are both performing job duties in the same location. Improving the safety of their working conditions is necessary, as several operators are killed or maimed every year in New York. This bill would require that motor vehicle operators exercise proper precautions to avoid colliding with a tow truck or its operator when approaching one on a highway by moving over when possible and slowing down to appropriate rates of speed.
Legislative history
S1609 of 2005-2006, S.1919 of 2007/2008
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.