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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes the dissemination of driver license photos to police agencies
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Harvey Weisenberg
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6262
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing photo images on driver's licenses to be available to police agencies
Purpose
To allow police officers and investigators to utilize photo images on a driver's license or driver's permit to compare it to the picture on record of the operator of a vehicle or while investigating individuals.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend section 504(3) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to permit police departments to have available the photo image of an individual licensed to drive a vehicle in the State of New York. The image could then be transmitted to computers operated by officers and investigators in the field to provide them a useful investigative tool in conducting law enforcement duties and investigations.
Existing law
VTL section 504 does not require such photos be provided to law enforcement.
Justification
With improving technology and better access to the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles, a licensee's photo is readily available Police officers and investigators can easily access this photo image during the performance of their duties which can be a useful investigative device for multiple purposes.
Last Year, Governor Cuomo recognized the importance of this matter and announced a new data sharing initiative that gave law enforcement agencies greater and instantaneous access to information housed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) through a secure internet portal. This information included photos of all New York State drivers and non-drivers, vehicle registrations, drivers' lifetime driving histories, as well as real-time notifications of traffic violations and other changes to a driver's record.
This legislation would statutorily give police officers access to photo images.
Legislative history
2011-2012: Passed Senate (S.4070/A.5662) 2007: Passed Senate (S.3573)
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.