What's happening
This bill requires signs about prohibited engine idling to be posted at all public and non-public schools in New York City.
Why it matters
Expanding awareness of anti-idling laws directly at schools may help reduce students’ and staff’s exposure to harmful vehicle emissions. , which is especially important for children’s health, as they are more vulnerable to air pollution.
Posting clear, visible signs at every public and non-public school creates a consistent citywide standard. , potentially making enforcement of anti-idling rules more effective and reducing confusion for drivers near schools.
Including non-public (private, parochial, etc.) schools ensures that air quality improvements and health protections extend to all students, not just those in public schools. , promoting greater equity in environmental health.
By specifying signage at schools in the law, the city signals that reducing vehicle idling in school zones is a priority. , which could encourage wider cultural shifts towards cleaner air practices in other sensitive areas.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Post No-Idling School Signs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6014
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to posting certain signs in front of public schools and nonpublic schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (b) of section 24-163 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 38 of the city of New York for the year 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The department of transportation shall post signs relating to prohibited idling that shall comply with the standards set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and, where practicable, include the maximum penalty that may be imposed for a violation of subdivision a of this section as follows:
(1) a sign shall be posted at each exit within the city of New York of each bridge and tunnel having only one terminus in the city of New York;
(2) signs shall be posted at a minimum of five locations in each borough where two or more truck routes, whether local or through routes, intersect;
(3) a sign shall be posted at each bus layover area (other than school bus layover areas), designated by the commissioner of transportation pursuant to section 4-10(c)(3) of title 34 of the rules of the city of New York;
(4) a sign shall be posted at each multiple use bus terminal point;
(5) a sign shall be posted in close proximity to each school bus depot; [and,]
(6) a sign shall be posted at each public school and non-public school subject to subdivision (f) of this section; and,
(7) signs shall be posted at other appropriate locations throughout the city as jointly determined by the commissioner and the commissioner
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11102-01-7
S. 6014 2
of transportation, including but not limited to, locations for which the city receives a substantial number of complaints of idling motor vehicles.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to posting certain signs in front of public schools and non-public schools
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision (b) of section 24-163 of the administrative code of the city of New York to by adding a new subdivision (b)(6) to require that a sign shall be posted at each public school and non-public school subject to subdivision (f) of this section which prohibits idling of motor vehicles for more than one minute adjacent to a public or non-public school.
Justification
The American Lung Association's State of the Air 2011 report found that nearly half of New York's 19 million residents live in counties where unhealthy air endangers their lives and health. In 2011, 16 of the 34 counties in New York State with air quality monitors received failing grades. In addition, gasoline powered vehicles contribute to the State's poor air quality through emissions of particulates, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the latter two pollutants being precursors for the formation of ground-level ozone. Exposure to ozone has been consistently linked to respiratory problems, including asthma exacerbation and other respiratory diseases. No one is more in danger of these types of health risks from idling motor vehicles than our children.
While it is laudable that the city of New York has instituted a law against motor vehicles idling for more than one minute in front of public and non-public school schools, the law has had limited impact because of the lack of signs posted near schools warning motor vehicle operators of this prohibition.
The current law fails to require that a sign be posted at each public school and non-public school subject to subdivision (f) of this section and instead has a catch all provision that would allow placement of signs at the discretion of the commissioners of the departments of environmental protection and transportation. Unfortunately this has resulted in very few signs actually being posted.
This legislation will now mandate that such signs be installed.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal impact
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.