What's happening
This bill allows local school districts and municipalities to set speed limits in school zones instead of the state.
Why it matters
Shifts decision-making power to local communities. , giving school districts and municipalities more direct control over the speed limits in school zones, which could allow them to address unique local safety concerns that may not be reflected in statewide policies.
Potentially enables faster responses to safety issues. near schools, as local authorities can adjust speed limits without waiting for state-level approval, possibly reducing accidents or improving pedestrian safety for students.
Could result in varied speed limits across different districts. , meaning drivers may encounter different school zone speed limits as they travel between areas, which might require increased awareness and adjustment by motorists.
Empowers school districts in collaboration with municipalities. , ensuring that those most familiar with school-specific traffic patterns and hazards have a direct say in how to best protect students.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Schools Set Speed Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5554
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BRABENEC -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LAWRENCE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing local school districts and municipalities to determine and establish school speed limits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 1620 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 563 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The department of transportation with respect to state highways maintained by the state outside of cities having a population in excess of one million, and highways on Indian reservations, may by order, rule or regulation establish higher or lower maximum speed limits at which vehicles may proceed on or along such highways than the fifty-five miles per hour statutory maximum speed limit. No such maximum speed limit shall be established at less than twenty-five miles per hour, except that school speed limits may be established at not less than fifteen miles per hour, for a distance not to exceed one thousand three hundred twenty feet, on a highway passing a school building, entrance or exit of a school abutting on the highway. The local school district and municipality within which a school is located shall determine and establish the maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed on a highway located in a school zone. Absence of signs installed pursuant to this section shall be presumptive evidence that the department of transportation has not established a higher maximum speed limit than the fifty-five miles per hour statutory limit.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 1622 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 563 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08988-01-7
A. 5554 2
1. Establish maximum speed limits at which vehicles may proceed on or along such highways higher or lower than the fifty-five miles per hour statutory maximum speed limit. No such limit shall be established at less than twenty-five miles per hour, except that school speed limits may be established at not less than fifteen miles per hour, for a distance not to exceed one thousand three hundred twenty feet, on a highway passing a school building, entrance or exit of a school abutting on the highway. The local school district and municipality within which a school is located shall determine and establish the maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed on a highway located in a school zone.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.