What's happening
This bill adds a mandatory driver education course, if recommended by the court, for repeat offenders who illegally pass stopped school buses.
Why it matters
Targets repeat offenders. By focusing on those with multiple violations, the bill aims to address individuals who have demonstrated repeated disregard for school bus safety laws, suggesting a higher risk to children and school communities.
Introduces judicial discretion. The requirement to attend a driver education course is "if recommended by the court," allowing judges to tailor penalties based on the specifics of each case, rather than mandating a one-size-fits-all approach.
Emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. Adding education as a penalty component signals a shift towards correcting dangerous driving behavior, rather than relying solely on fines or jail time, potentially reducing future violations.
May impact driver records and insurance. Completion of a court-ordered driver education course could become part of an offender's record, possibly influencing insurance premiums and future court decisions in traffic-related cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Mandate Driver Ed for Offenders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 5907a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- 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.
Mandatory Driver Ed for Offenders
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5907--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to modifying the penalties associated with passing a stopped school bus to include a mandatory driver education course
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (c) of section 1174 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 254 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Every person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of this section shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment. Every person convicted of a second violation or subsequent violation thereafter shall be required to attend a driver education course, if recommended by the court.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that 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 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11445-02-7
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 modifying the penalties associated with passing a stopped school bus to include a mandatory driver education course
Purpose
To make mandatory, subject to the discretion of a judge, attendance of a driver's education course by repeat violators of section 1174, title 7, article 29, of the state Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 1174, title 7, article 29, of the state Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a mandatory driver's education course for repeat violators of that section, subject to the discretion of a judge.
Section 2: States that the act shall take effect ninety days after this bill shall have become law.
Justification
Our State's children are endangered every day by motorists who fail to stop for school buses that have their red lights flashing to indicate that children are boarding or leaving the bus. Data suggests that there may be tens of thousands of instances per month where drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus statewide. Such acts endanger our children. To reduce the safety problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses the section of the Vehicle and Traffic law that makes this act illegal must be given bigger teeth. By requiring drivers that repeatedly violate that statute to attend a driver's education course we not only inflict a fine or imprisonment on the offender, but add an additional penalty that will reinforce the especially dangerous nature of the driver's pattern of behavior. This will hopefully compound the effects of the base punishment, convincing the offender to be a safer driver in the future and helping to make our communities a safer place.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect within 90 days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.