What's happening
This bill prohibits for-hire vehicles with ten or more occupants from making U-turns on multi-lane roads, except in emergencies or when directed by law enforcement.
Why it matters
Targets passenger safety. By restricting large for-hire vehicles (such as minibuses, shuttles, and similar services) from making U-turns on multi-lane roads, the bill aims to reduce collisions and serious accidents that can occur when these larger vehicles attempt risky maneuvers in busy traffic conditions.
Affects transit companies and drivers. For-hire transportation providers and their drivers will have to adjust routes and driving behaviors, potentially impacting scheduling and operational efficiency, especially in urban areas with frequent multi-lane roads.
Makes exceptions for emergencies and law enforcement. The law recognizes practical needs by allowing U-turns for these vehicles only in emergencies or when specifically directed by police or similar authorities, balancing public safety with operational flexibility in urgent situations.
Reflects broader moves for traffic safety regulation. This measure fits into a trend of increasing oversight on commercial and passenger-carrying vehicles, signaling potential future regulations for other risky maneuvers or vehicle types to improve road safety.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
For-hire vehicle operators
The bill would prohibit U-turns by vehicles with capacity for at least 10 occupants, including the driver, on roads with two or more lanes, whether traffic runs in the same or opposing directions.
Drivers of covered for-hire vehicles
Drivers could make U-turns on those roads only in an emergency or when directed by a police officer, peace officer, constable or sheriff.
Police officers, peace officers, constables and sheriffs
The bill would allow these officers to direct covered vehicles to make U-turns despite the prohibition.
Headline styles
Ban U-Turns for Large Vans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- 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.
Ban U-Turns for Large Vans
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Timothy M. Kennedy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1294
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, SANTABARBARA, FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting U turns by certain vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1167 to read as follows:
§ 1167. U turns by certain vehicles prohibited. Any for hire vehicle with a capacity of transporting ten or more occupants, including the driver, is prohibited from making a U turn on any roadway in the state with two or more lanes of traffic, whether in the same direction or opposing, except in the case of an emergency situation or when the driver of such vehicle is directed to make a U turn by a police officer, peace officer, constable or sheriff.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01678-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.