What's happening
This bill prohibits drivers from wearing internet-connected glasses or contacts, imposes penalties, and requires a safety evaluation and report.
Why it matters
Establishes a formal safety review. The bill mandates that the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee evaluate the risks of driving while wearing internet-connected glasses or contacts, considering features like texting, video, and access to databases. This means policymakers want data before setting permanent rules, potentially shaping the future of wearable technology regulation.
Creates strict penalties for violations. Anyone caught driving while wearing these devices faces an automatic six-month license suspension, with even harsher penalties (a one-year suspension) for new drivers licensed within the past year. This reflects a strong stance on preventing technology-related distracted driving and has significant consequences for those who violate the ban.
Imposes special restrictions on young and new drivers. The bill permanently bans drivers under 21 from wearing such devices, regardless of future safety study outcomes, and places extra restrictions on those with a license for less than a year. This targets demographics considered at higher risk for distracted driving and may affect how young people use emerging technologies.
Allows lawsuits against manufacturers. If someone is injured because of a driver violating this law, they can sue the manufacturer of the internet-connected glasses or contacts involved. This could push tech companies to rethink the design or marketing of their products, knowing they could face legal liability in addition to individual drivers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Smart Glasses While Driving
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6301
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to evaluating and ensuring the safety of driving with regard to wearing glasses or contacts capable of accessing the internet and mobile technology; and in relation to prohibiting the use of such glasses or contacts while driving
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 397-c to read as follows:
§ 397-c. Evaluating the safety of driving while wearing glasses or contact lenses capable of accessing the internet and mobile technology. 1. The department and the governor's traffic safety committee shall evaluate the safety of driving while wearing glasses or contacts capable of accessing the internet and mobile technology, including but not limited to, texting, video, cell phone address books and databases.
2. Entities shall submit a report and recommendations including whether such technology should be banned from being worn when driving; whether the state should ban the issuance of auto insurance to a driver who does not certify with his or her automobile insurance carrier that such glasses will not be worn when driving; whether the violation of such certification can be used to permanently deny auto insurance to such a driver; what penalties and fines should be imposed on those driving with such a distraction for the road; and what limits on young and new drivers should be put in place with regard to such technology; and any other suggestions that will improve traffic safety in the state. The report is due no later than February first, two thousand eighteen.
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 397-d to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08163-01-7
A. 6301 2
§ 397-d. Driving while wearing glasses or contacts capable of accessing the internet and mobile technology prohibited. 1. Glasses or contacts capable of accessing the internet are prohibited while driving a motor vehicle until the department and the governor's traffic safety committee issue the report required by section three hundred ninety-seven-c of this article.
2. Wearing such glasses or contacts while prohibited pursuant to this section shall result in an automatic six month suspension of a driver's license issued pursuant to this chapter.
3. No driver under the age of twenty-one shall wear such glasses or contacts, regardless of the aforementioned study group's recommendations.
4. Any driver issued a license within the past year, pursuant to this chapter, shall be prohibited from the use of such technology while driving; such a violation shall result in the automatic suspension of such a license for one year.
5. A person who has been injured by reason of any violation of this section may bring an action in his or her own name against the manufacturer of such technology.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided however, that section two of this act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.