What's happening
This bill allows individuals with valid or recently expired driver’s licenses from certain Caribbean countries to exchange them for a New York license after passing written and vision tests.
Why it matters
Facilitates smoother transition for immigrants and temporary residents. by allowing those from a wide range of Caribbean countries to more easily obtain a New York driver's license, supporting access to work, education, and daily life.
Reduces redundancy and barriers. since eligible applicants won't need to start the licensing process from scratch; instead, their existing driving credentials are recognized after passing only the written and vision tests.
Promotes road safety and regulatory oversight. by requiring that exchanged licenses be valid or recently expired, have been held for at least six months, and not be suspended or revoked—helping to ensure that only experienced and responsible drivers qualify.
Strengthens ties with Caribbean diaspora communities. by formally acknowledging and accommodating the credentials of individuals from these countries, reflecting New York’s diverse population and potentially fostering goodwill.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let More Foreign Licenses Count
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
8204
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to permitting the exchange of drivers licenses from certain countries
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. License exchange for certain countries. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, the commissioner shall accept as valid for purposes of identification, age and examination a driver's license issued from a country listed in paragraph (b) of this section and shall issue a license to drive in this state to an individual holding a license described in paragraph (c) of this section, provided however, the individual shall be subject to the written examination and the vision test required by subdivision four of this section.
(b) A drivers license issued by the following countries or territories shall be valid for purposes of paragraph (a) of this subdivision: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinque, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
(c) A license issued by a country listed in paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall be accepted for exchange if it: is valid or has expired within the past six months; states the date upon which it was issued and it was issued a minimum of six months prior to the date of the application; and is not suspended, revoked, lost or stolen.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09756-03-7
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.