What's happening
This bill allows individuals from specified Caribbean countries and territories to exchange their driver's licenses for New York licenses after passing required tests.
Why it matters
Expands access for Caribbean immigrants. Individuals from a range of Caribbean countries and territories (including Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, and many others) will be able to more easily transition to New York driver’s licenses, helping them integrate and access work, education, and community life.
Reduces redundant testing while maintaining safety. Applicants must still pass New York’s written and vision tests, ensuring they meet local safety standards, but are spared the potentially burdensome process of re-taking full road tests if they already have relevant experience.
Promotes legal driving and economic participation. By making it easier for immigrants to obtain local licenses, the bill may reduce unlicensed driving, improve road safety, and allow more people to legally drive for jobs, family responsibilities, and community involvement.
Sets clear criteria and prevents abuse. Only licenses that are valid or recently expired (within six months), were held for at least six months, and are not suspended or revoked will qualify—helping ensure that only legitimate, experienced drivers benefit from the exchange program.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exchange Foreign Driver's Licenses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred 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.
Allow Caribbean License Exchange
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2098
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to permitting the exchange of drivers licenses from certain countries
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. License exchange for certain countries. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, the commissioner shall accept as valid for purposes of identification, age and examination a driver's license issued from a country listed in paragraph (b) of this subdivision and shall issue a license to drive in this state to an individual holding a license described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, provided however, the individual shall be subject to the written examination and the vision test required by subdivision four of this section.
(b) A drivers license issued by the following countries or territories shall be valid for purposes of paragraph (a) of this subdivision: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
(c) A license issued by a country listed in paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall be accepted for exchange if it: is valid or has expired within the past six months; states the date upon which it was issued and it was issued a minimum of six months prior to the date of the application; and is not suspended, revoked, lost or stolen.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07205-01-9
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.