What's happening
This bill requires the DMV to provide safety information about two-point seat belts when registering vehicles from 2008 or earlier.
Why it matters
Raises awareness about older vehicle safety risks. By requiring the DMV to provide information specifically about two-point (lap-only) seat belts in vehicles from model year 2008 or earlier, the bill highlights that these older restraints offer less protection than the now-standard three-point belts, potentially prompting owners to consider upgrades or extra caution.
Targets drivers of higher-risk vehicles. Older cars are more likely to lack modern safety features, so directly informing their owners about the hazards can help reduce injury severity in crashes, especially since many drivers may not realize their seat belts are outdated or less effective.
Leverages expert safety guidance. The informational materials must include safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ensuring that vehicle owners receive accurate, research-backed advice about the risks and possible mitigations.
Encourages potential policy or behavior change. By making the risks of two-point seat belts more visible at the point of vehicle registration, the bill could lead to increased public pressure for retrofits, influence insurance policies, or encourage safer driving habits among those with less-protected vehicles.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn About Old Seat Belts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3404
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to warnings regarding two-point seat belts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph d of subdivision 3 of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 152 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
d. In processing any application for a certificate of registration pursuant to this article or to title eleven of this chapter, the commissioner shall provide the applicant with informational materials describing the lead-acid battery management, return and collection requirements set forth in title seventeen of article twenty-seven of the environmental conservation law, and the used oil management, recycling and disposal requirements set forth in title twenty-three of article twenty-three of the environmental conservation law. Such informational materials shall be distributed at the first opportunity and periodically thereafter. Additionally, if the vehicle being registered has a model year of 2008 or earlier, the commissioner shall provide the applicant with informational materials informing them of the hazards associated with a two-point seat belt. The content of such notice shall be developed by the commissioner and contain relevant safety information from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed 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.
LBD01100-01-9
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.