What's happening
This bill requires driver's pre-licensing courses in New York to include mandatory education on laws relating to handicapped accessible parking.
Why it matters
Increases awareness of accessibility rights. By requiring all new drivers to learn about handicapped accessible parking laws, the bill aims to foster greater respect and understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the importance of keeping these spaces available.
May reduce illegal or improper use of accessible spaces. Educating drivers early on could lead to fewer violations, such as unauthorized parking in designated spots, which directly impacts the mobility and independence of people with disabilities.
Standardizes accessibility education statewide. The requirement ensures that every driver in New York, regardless of where they take their pre-licensing course, receives the same baseline knowledge about accessibility regulations, promoting consistent enforcement and social norms.
Signals prioritization of disability rights. Including this content alongside other mandatory topics like alcohol/drug education and work zone safety elevates the issue of accessibility, potentially leading to broader cultural shifts in how accessibility laws are valued and followed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Handicapped Parking Laws
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1749
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1614
Show 2 earlier actions
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2689
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to parking spaces for handicapped persons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 585 of the laws of 2002, is amended and a new paragraph (i) is added to read as follows:
(b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a "Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of this subdivision [and], a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-2) of this subdivision, and instruction in the laws relating to parking spaces for the handicapped as described in paragraph (i) of this subdivision, the commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a road test in a representative vehicle of a type prescribed by the commissioner which shall be appropriate to the type of license for which application is made, except that the commissioner may waive the road test requirements for certain classes of applicants. The commissioner shall have the power to establish a program to allow persons other than employees of the department to conduct road tests in representative vehicles when such tests are required for applicants to obtain a class A, B or C license. If she chooses to do so, she shall set forth her reasons in writing and conduct a public hearing on the matter. She shall only establish such a program after holding the public hearing.
(i) The commissioner shall provide in the pre-licensing course, set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision a mandatory component in education of the laws relating to handicapped accessible parking.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07542-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to parking spaces for handicapped persons
Purpose
Requires that instruction in the laws relating to handicapped parking be included in the pre-licensing driver's course.
Summary of provisions
Amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 585 of the laws of 2002, by adding a new paragraph (i).
Justification
Violations of the handicapped parking laws are frequent, inconsiderate, and unnecessary. Before receiving a driver's license, New Yorkers should be taught the laws pertaining to handicapped parking. Making more New Yorkers aware of these laws should reduce the number of illegal parking violations, and improve awareness and sensitivity of all drivers.
Legislative history
2013/2014 - S.1166 Referred to Senate Transportation Committee 2011/2012 - S.1443 Remained in the Senate Committee on Transportation 2009/2010 - S.414B/A.9145 Passed the Senate/Remained in the Assembly Committee on Transportation 2007/2008 - S.503/A.1414 Remained in the Senate and Assembly Committees on Transportation 2005/2006 - S.1408/A.2637 Remained in the Senate and Assembly Committees on Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.