What's happening
This bill requires drivers with a learner's permit in New York to display a sign indicating a new driver is operating the vehicle.
Why it matters
Promotes awareness and caution. By requiring a visible "new driver" sign on vehicles operated by learner’s permit holders, the bill encourages other drivers to exercise greater patience and caution, potentially reducing aggressive driving or risky maneuvers around inexperienced drivers.
Standardizes communication. The law establishes a statewide, commissioner-approved sign for new drivers, ensuring consistency and clarity, so all road users can easily recognize when a vehicle is being operated by someone still learning.
May enhance road safety and accountability. Making new drivers more visible could help law enforcement and driving instructors monitor compliance with other permit restrictions, and could also foster a safer environment for both the learner and the public.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require New Driver Signs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3285
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 signage for persons driving under a learner's permit
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 501-b of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 644 of the laws of 2002, paragraphs (c) and (d) as amended by chapter 403 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1. In addition to the restrictions contained in subdivision five of section five hundred one of this article, no holder of a class DJ or class MJ learner's permit shall:
(a) operate a motor vehicle with any front seat occupants other than the supervising driver;
(b) operate a motor vehicle unless every occupant of such vehicle is properly restrained by a safety belt or child safety seat in accordance with the provisions of subdivision three-a of section twelve hundred twenty-nine-c of this chapter;
(c) operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is under the age of twenty-one and who is not a member of such holder's immediate family, provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply when such holder is accompanied by a duly licensed parent, guardian, person in a position of loco parentis, driver education teacher or driving school instructor;
(d) be eligible for issuance of a class DJ, MJ, D or M license unless such permit has been valid for at least six months. Any time period in which such class DJ or MJ learner's permit has been suspended or revoked shall not be counted in determining the length of time that such learner's permit has been valid;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02861-01-7
S. 3285 2
(e) operate a motor vehicle without a sign, visible to both oncoming and following traffic, indicating that such vehicle is being driven by a new driver. Such sign shall be in such form and distributed in such manner as provided by the commissioner upon issuance of such learner's permit.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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 signage for persons driving under a learner's permit
Purpose or general idea of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law requiring Learner License signage to be displayed on all vehicles being operated by a driver holding a learners permit.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1-501(b) of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 644 of the laws of 2002, is amended to include the additional restriction that anyone holding a class DJ or class MJ learner's permit cannot operate a motor vehicle without a sign, visible to both oncoming and flowing traffic, indicating that such vehicle is being driven by a new driver. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall determine the form and distribution of such signage.
Justification
While New York has placed additional restrictions on new drivers in an effort to protect new and young drivers, accidents still occur in alarming frequency. Oftentimes, accidents occur as the result of other driver mistakes and/or actions rather the newly learning driver.
The display of a learner's license tag or plate on the rear view window of an automobile will alert other drivers that a learning driver is operating the vehicle. Drivers around the learning driver could then exercise more caution in their driving behavior. The learning driver would also benefit knowing that other drivers on the road axe aware that he or she is learning how to drive.
This practice is widespread throughout the world. New drivers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Great British Columbia, are require to place learner tags on their vehicles.
The Commissioner of Motor. Vehicle shall determine the form and nature of the learner signage with the requirement that the signage is removable and transferable from vehicle to vehicle, and that is clearly displayed to motorists who are near the vehicle.
Prior legislative history
2015-16:S.1169/A.5535 - Referred to Transportation 2013-14:S.1612/A.685- Referred to Transportation 2011-12:S.1057/A4252- Referred to Transportation 2009-10:S.5379/A.4180 Referred to Transportation 2008: A.9496 Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
Minimal to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for printing of signs.
Effective date
1st of September next succeeding the date on which 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.