What's happening
This bill increases fines and penalties for drivers of commercial motor vehicles who illegally pass stopped school buses.
Why it matters
Targets commercial motor vehicle drivers specifically. , recognizing that larger vehicles can pose greater risks to children when illegally passing stopped school buses, and thus holds professional drivers to a higher standard.
Raises minimum and maximum fines for commercial drivers. compared to non-commercial drivers for each offense, signaling a stronger deterrence against dangerous behavior by those operating commercial vehicles in school zones.
Prescribes escalating penalties for repeat offenders. , with higher fines and potential jail time for second and third violations within three years, aiming to curb habitual disregard for school bus safety laws among commercial drivers.
Defines "commercial motor vehicle" by reference to existing law. , ensuring clarity about which vehicles and drivers are subject to the increased penalties and reducing loopholes in enforcement.
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
Headline styles
Increase School Bus Passing Fines
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.
Increase School Bus Fines
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1187
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the fines associated with passing a stopped school bus by certain vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (c) of section 1174 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 254 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(c) [Every] 1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph two of this subdivision, every person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of this section shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
2. Every person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) of this section while operating a commercial motor vehicle shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second violation, both of which were committed within a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02290-01-9
S. 1187 2
period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred fifty dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a conviction of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a period of three years, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than eight hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "commercial motor vehicle" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by subdivision four of section five hundred one-a of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which 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 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the fines associated with passing a stopped school bus by certain vehi- cles
Purpose
To establish higher fines imposed on violators of section 1174, title 7, article 29, of the state Vehicle and Traffic Law who violate that stat- ute while driving certain kinds of large vehicles.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 1174, title 7, article 29, of the state Vehi- cle and Traffic Law by establishing specific penalties to be assessed when certain types of vehicles pass a stopped school bus.
Section 2: States that the act shall take effect on the first of Novem- ber next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Justification
Our State's children are endangered every day by motorists who fail to stop for school buses that have their red lights flashing to indicate that children are boarding or leaving the bus. Data suggests that there may be tens of thousands of instances per month where drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus statewide. Such acts endanger our children. To reduce the safety problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses the section of the Vehicle and Traffic law that makes this act illegal must be given bigger teeth. The special hazard posed to pedestrians by larger vehicles is no less severe when that pedestrian is a child boarding or leaving a school bus. Should such a vehicle, while illegally attempting to pass a stopped school bus, collide with a pedestrian, school child, other vehicles, or the school bus itself the damage could be catastroph- ic. The drivers of large vehicles should always take extra care on the road. By subjecting drivers that illegally pass a stopped school bus while driving a large vehicle to higher penalties, we can potentially curb such unsafe behavior.
Legislative history
2017-2018: S.5897A/A.8623B.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which 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 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.