Relates to the surrender of number plates for violations committed in a city having a population of one million or more

8 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Tony Avella
• Neil D. Breslin
• Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• Liz Krueger
• George Latimer
• Kevin S. Parker
• Toby Ann Stavisky

BILL NUMBER:S2539C

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the surrender of number plates of all motor vehicles which a person has registered where such person has a suspended or revoked license arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle within a city having a population of one million or more

Summary of specific provisions

Section one amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section 403-c. The section would require any person who has had their license suspended or revoked pursuant to the vehicle and traffic law for an incident that occurred in a city of more than one million residents to surrender the certificates of registration and number plates of registered motor vehicles to the department of motor vehicles. Additionally, the Department of Motor Vehicles will provide notice to those who must return such plates and registrations, and provides a penalty for noncompliance. Last, there is an exception to this requirement for vehicles shared by members of the affected person's family when the return of such plates and registrations would result in undue hardship.

Justification

Recently, more attention has been paid to the fact that drivers with suspended licenses in New York State are still getting behind the wheel - and killing people. Ten percent of all crashes in New York are caused by drivers with suspended or revoked licenses, and 75 percent of those drivers still get behind the wheel.

Often these drivers are suspended for reckless, dangerous, or drunken driving and are a menace to not only pedestrians like Noshat Nahian, the eight year old third grader at PS 152 who lost his life when he was hit by a tractor trailer while crossing Northern Boulevard at 61st Street, but also to other drivers on the road.

Licenses are suspended for a reason and suspending these license plates would keep dangerous drivers off the road.

Prior legislative history

2015: Senate Bill #2539 (Gianaris) Reported by Senate Transportation Committee, Referred to Senate Codes Committee. 2014: Senate Bill #6385 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Transportation Committee

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act should take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.