What's happening
This bill requires all yellow or amber traffic lights in areas with red light cameras to have uniform signal durations.
Why it matters
Reduces unfair ticketing risk. By requiring that all yellow (amber) lights in areas with red light cameras last the same amount of time, the bill aims to prevent situations where shorter yellow lights could unexpectedly increase the chance of drivers getting ticketed for running red lights.
Promotes transparency and trust. Standardizing yellow light durations can address public concerns that traffic enforcement cameras are used primarily for revenue generation rather than safety, helping to restore trust in local traffic enforcement.
Improves safety and predictability. Uniform yellow light timing ensures that drivers across a community can anticipate how much time they have to safely clear intersections, reducing confusion and the likelihood of abrupt stops or risky decisions.
Impacts how local governments operate cameras. The bill may force municipalities to review and potentially adjust their signal timing policies, possibly requiring upgrades or recalibration of traffic lights where red light cameras are installed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Standardize Yellow Light Timing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1127
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring that in communities that include traffic-control devices outfitted with photo monitoring instruments, amber or yellow signal lights located on any traffic-control device in such community shall have uniform duration periods
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1111-f to read as follows:
§ 1111-f. Duration of yellow or amber signals located in communities with traffic-control devices outfitted with photo monitoring. (a) In communities that include traffic-control devices outfitted with photo monitoring instruments:
1. there shall be displayed a steady circular yellow or amber signal warning traffic that any movement related to a green signal is being terminated and that a red signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter; and
2. all yellow or amber signals located on any traffic-control device in such community shall have uniform duration periods.
(b) As used in this section, "photo monitoring instrument" shall mean cameras which provide photographs, videotapes or other recorded images and which are built into a traffic-control device's red signal light.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04424-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.