What's happening
This bill requires taxi and livery drivers and front seat passengers aged 16 or older to wear seat belts.
Why it matters
Closes a major safety loophole. by requiring both drivers and front seat passengers in taxis and liveries (like Ubers and car services) to wear seat belts, which were previously exempt from such rules, increasing overall passenger and driver safety.
Shifts responsibility and potential liability. to adult passengers (16+) and drivers in these vehicles, making non-compliance a civil offense with potential fines, which may influence individual behavior and company policies.
May drive changes in industry practices. by encouraging taxi and livery companies to educate riders and drivers about seat belt use, potentially reducing injuries and insurance costs, but also raising questions about enforcement and compliance in busy urban environments.
Includes specific defenses and exceptions. , such as if the vehicle itself is not equipped with functioning seat belts due to violations by the operator, addressing practical challenges while maintaining the intent to improve safety.
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Who cares
Taxi and livery drivers
The bill would require them to wear approved safety belts while operating their vehicles, with violations subject to civil fines of up to $50.
Front-seat taxi and livery passengers age 16 and older
The bill would require them to wear approved safety belts or face civil fines of up to $50.
Taxi and livery owners and operators
A vehicle’s violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law section 383(4-b) would give front-seat passengers an affirmative defense against a seat-belt violation.
Headline styles
Seatbelts Required in Taxis
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1258
- Ordered to third reading cal.2133
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Seatbelts in Taxis
Signed by Governor · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5749
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- 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 the use of safety belts in taxicabs and liveries
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 5 and 9 of section 1229-c of the vehicle and traffic law, subdivision 5 as amended by chapter 448 of the laws of 2015 and subdivision 9 as amended by chapter 390 of the laws of 1996, are amended to read as follows:
5. Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision three, three-c or ten-a of this section shall be punished by a civil fine of up to fifty dollars. Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision one, two, eleven or thirteen of this section shall be punished by a civil fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. In any prosecution or proceeding alleging a violation of paragraph (b) of subdivision one or paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that the passenger subject to the requirements of such paragraphs was restrained by a safety belt and measures more than four feet nine inches in height and/or weighs more than one hundred pounds. In any prosecution or proceeding alleging a violation of paragraph (b) of subdivision three-c of this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that such taxi or livery was in violation of subdivision four-b of section three hundred eighty-three of this chapter.
9. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section, the provisions of this section shall not apply to [taxis, liveries, and] buses other than school buses and the provisions of subdivisions one, two, three and three-a of this section shall not apply to taxis and liveries.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04425-01-7
S. 5749 2
§ 2. Section 1229-c of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-c to read as follows:
3-c. (a) No person shall operate a taxi or livery unless such person is restrained by a safety belt approved by the commissioner.
(b) No person sixteen years of age or over shall be a passenger in the front seat of a taxi or livery unless such person is restrained by a safety belt approved by the commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect November 1, 2017. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
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 the use of safety belts in taxicabs and liveries
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to provide taxicab and livery operators and passengers in the state of New York with commissioner approved safety belts.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends section 1229-c of the vehicle and traffic law by amending subdivisions 5 and 9, extend the provisions of seatbelt requirements to taxi and livery vehicles.
Section 2. Amends section 1229-c of the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new subdivision 3-c to require operators of taxi and livery vehicles to be restrained by seatbelts and to restrict passengers sixteen and older from riding in the front seat of such vehicles without seatbelt restraint.
Justification
The intent of this bill is to require every New York State taxicab and livery operator and passenger be restrained with a commissioner-approved safety belt.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on November 1, 2018. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.