Relates to passenger registration of pickup trucks

BILL NUMBER:S6175

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to passenger registration of pickup trucks

Summary of provisions

Notwithstanding and other provisions of this chapter or other law, rule or regulation, section 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law will be amended by adding a new subdivision 16-A. This new subdivision will allow a pickup truck, which is used exclusively for non-commercial purposes, to be classified as a passenger vehicle and registered accord- ingly at the option of the registrant.

For the purposes of this subdivision a pickup truck will be defined as any truck, regardless of weight, which has a cargo bed and side walls, regardless of seating capacity within the cab.

Justification

In the current law a family who uses their pickup truck to tow a recre- ational camper or vehicle is exposed to a $200 fine for using their pickup truck, which is registered commercially yet isn't actually used for commercial purposes, when driving through New York City. Many people choose to visit the sites of America and the great state of New York in this fashion yet they are subjected to predatory stops and fines when approaching and using the crossings in and around New York City; regard- less of the intent of the law.

This bill aims to correct this oversight in the current Vehicle and Traffic law by allowing pickup trucks which are not used for commercial purposes to be registered as passenger vehicles. This bill will both correct this problem and further foster tourism in New York.

Fiscal implications

None

Prior legislative history

2012: a.10383 Referred to Transportation

Effective date

This act shall take effect sixtieth day after it becomes law.