What's happening
This bill prohibits bus, taxi, and livery drivers from using hands-free mobile phones while driving, except for emergencies or dispatch.
Why it matters
Raises safety standards for public transportation. by restricting all bus, taxi, and livery drivers from using hands-free mobile phones while driving, aiming to reduce distracted driving incidents among professional drivers responsible for passenger safety.
Narrows existing exemptions. previously, hands-free use was broadly permitted for all drivers; now, this bill specifically removes that allowance for bus, taxi, and livery operators, except during emergencies or when communicating with dispatch.
Could impact how drivers communicate with employers and customers. , potentially creating operational challenges for transportation companies who rely on hands-free calls for real-time updates, unless these are strictly for dispatch purposes.
Signals a shift in regulatory focus. from just handheld device use to all forms of mobile phone interaction (including hands-free) for certain drivers, reflecting growing concern that even hands-free conversation can be a significant distraction in high-responsibility driving roles.
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
Bus drivers
The bill would bar hands-free mobile phone use while driving a moving bus, except for dispatch or specified emergency communications.
Taxi and livery drivers
The bill would remove their general hands-free exemption and allow non-dispatch, non-emergency phone use only when legally parked somewhere other than a passenger pickup or drop-off stop.
Bus, taxi and livery operators
The bill would preserve hands-free phone use for dispatch while restricting other calls by their drivers.
Headline styles
Limit Bus And Taxi Calls
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3498
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, FAHY, SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to drivers of buses, taxis and livery vehicles using hands-free mobile telephones
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 1225-c of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) No driver of a bus, livery or taxi shall use a hands-free mobile telephone while operating a moving bus or motor vehicle except in the case of an emergency pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section or if such hands-free mobile telephone is used for dispatch or if the bus or motor vehicle is parked, for purposes other than dropping off or picking up passengers, at the side of, or off, a public highway in a location where such vehicle is not otherwise prohibited from stopping by law, rule, regulation or any lawful order or direction of a police officer.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 1225-c of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 69 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3. Subdivision two of this section shall not apply to (a) the use of a mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: an emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company or corps; a fire department, district or company; or a police department, (b) any of the following persons while in the performance of their official duties: a police officer or peace officer; a member of a fire department, district or company; or the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section one hundred one of this chapter, or (c) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone, except in the case of a driver operating a bus, taxi or livery.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06623-01-9
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.