What's happening
This bill prohibits unauthorized use, sale, or possession of traffic-control signal preemption devices, establishing penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Closes a legal loophole by specifically defining “traffic-control signal preemption devices” and making it illegal for non-authorized individuals or companies to buy, possess, manufacture, sell, or use them. this helps prevent private misuse of technology that can manipulate traffic lights.
Establishes clear, escalating penalties for violations, including hefty fines, misdemeanors, and even felonies if misuse leads to serious injury or death. this signals the seriousness of interfering with public safety infrastructure and acts as a deterrent.
Protects emergency and public transportation operations by explicitly exempting authorized vehicles and maintenance personnel. , ensuring these essential services can continue to use such devices in legitimate situations without fear of legal repercussions.
Addresses public safety concerns by targeting the black market and unauthorized use of signal-changing devices. , which could otherwise be exploited for illegal street racing, evading law enforcement, or causing dangerous disruptions to traffic flow.
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Who cares
Drivers with signal-preemption devices
The bill would prohibit knowingly driving an equipped vehicle outside its exceptions, with misdemeanor penalties for using the device to change signals and a felony if that use causes serious physical injury or death.
Device manufacturers, installers and sellers
Unauthorized manufacture, installation, sale or distribution would be a class A misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine per device.
Emergency vehicle personnel
The bill would permit them to operate signal-preemption devices only during emergency operations.
Public transportation operators
The bill would preserve access to these devices for public transportation vehicles and exempt authorized vehicles operating within official duties from the driving prohibition.
Headline styles
Ban Traffic Signal Changers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 3625a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Ban Traffic Signal Hacking Devices
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3625--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting the use of any device which affects the operation of a traffic-control signal
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 154-a to read as follows:
§ 154-a. Traffic-control signal preemption device. Any device designed or used to change or attempt to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal or traffic-control device. This shall include, but not be limited to, a mobile infrared transmitter or other device that is capable of sending a signal that interrupts or changes the sequence patterns of an official traffic-control device or trafficcontrol signal.
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 397-c to read as follows:
§ 397-c. Unauthorized sale, purchase, or use of traffic-control signal preemption device.
1. No person shall buy, possess, manufacture, install, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute a traffic-control signal preemption device, unless the purchase, possession, manufacture, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution is for use of the device by an authorized emergency vehicle or public transportation vehicle.
2. (a) Excluding an authorized emergency vehicle or authorized public transportation vehicle operating within the scope of his or her official duties, no person shall operate any motor vehicle which he or she knows is equipped with a traffic-control signal preemption device. The pres-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00309-04-9
A. 3625--A 2
ence in a motor vehicle of a traffic-control signal preemption device connected to a power source and in an operable condition is presumptive evidence of the operator's knowledge of the device. Such presumption shall be rebutted by any credible and reliable evidence which tends to show that the operator of the motor vehicle was not aware of the presence of such device. The definition of an "authorized public transportation vehicle" shall include, but not be limited to, public transportation authorized under titles eleven, eleven-A, eleven-B, eleven-C, and eleven-D of article five of the public authorities law or public transportation authorized under chapter one hundred fifty-four of the laws of of nineteen hundred twenty-one relating to the port authority of New York and New Jersey.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person using such a device while engaged in the authorized maintenance or repair of a traffic-control signal.
(c) Authorized emergency vehicle personnel shall only operate a traffic-control signal preemption device in the course of an emergency operation.
3. (a) Unauthorized manufacture, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of a traffic-control signal preemption device in violation of subdivision one of this section shall be a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of five thousand dollars for each device manufactured, installed, sold, offered for sale, or distributed.
(b) Unauthorized purchase or possession of a traffic-control signal preeemption device in violation of subdivision one or two of this section shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars.
(c) A violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section while using a traffic-control signal preemption device to change or attempt to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal or traffic-control device shall constitute a class A misdemeanor.
(d) If a serious physical injury or death, as defined by article ten of the penal law, occurs as a result of a violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section while using a traffic-control signal preemption device to affect the operation of a traffic-control signal or traffic-control device, such violation shall constitute a class E felony.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of any other applicable section of law.
§ 3. Subdivision (b) of section 1115 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 251 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision (d) is added to read as follows:
(b) For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. to "deface" shall include, but not be limited to, to damage, destroy, disfigure, erase, ruin, distort, spoil or otherwise change the external appearance of an object by the use of chalk, crayon, paint, stain, ink or other similar material.
2. to "alter" a traffic-control signal shall include, but not be limited to, changing or attempting to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal by use of a traffic-control signal preemption device.
[3. "traffic-control signal preemption device" shall mean any device designed or used to change or attempt to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal.]
A. 3625--A 3
(d) A violation of this section shall be subject to penalties in accordance with paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of subdivision three of section three hundred ninety-seven-c of this chapter.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment 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.
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.