What's happening
The bill allows motorcycles to have intermediate side reflectors or marker lamps in colors other than white, red, or blue, with restrictions on their movement and illumination.
Why it matters
Expands customization for motorcycle owners. By allowing intermediate side reflectors or marker lamps in more colors (except white, red, or blue), the bill gives riders greater freedom to personalize their bikes' appearance and visibility.
Maintains clear safety standards. The prohibition on white, red, or blue colors, as well as on moving, flashing, or oscillating lights, is intended to prevent confusion with emergency vehicles and avoid distracting other drivers, balancing customization with public safety.
Could impact aftermarket and motorcycle accessory industries. The new flexibility may create opportunities for manufacturers and retailers to offer new lighting products, potentially boosting business in the motorcycle accessory market.
May affect law enforcement practices. Police will need to be aware of the new allowances and restrictions to correctly enforce lighting laws, possibly reducing unnecessary stops for lighting violations, while still targeting genuinely unsafe or illegal setups.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Motorcycle Side Reflectors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2089
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, FUNKE -- 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 intermediate side reflex reflectors or intermediate side marker lamps on motorcycles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 381 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
(d) Every motorcycle may have one or more intermediate side reflex reflectors or intermediate side marker lamps in any color except white, red or blue. Intermediate side marker lamps shall not revolve, rotate, flash, oscillate, constantly move, or be designed to illuminate the roadway around the motorcycle or otherwise be a distraction.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01637-01-9
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 intermediate side reflex reflectors or intermediate side marker lamps on motorcycles
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to remove the current prohibition on side lights on motorcycles and to permit intermediate side reflectors and marker lamps to improve motorcycle visibility.
Summary of specific provisions
Section One - amends subdivision 1 of section 381 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to add a new paragraph (d) which provides that every motor- cycle may have one or more intermediate side reflex reflectors or inter- mediate side marker lamps of any color except white, red or blue. The paragraph further specifies that if a motorcycle has such lamps, they cannot revolve, rotate, flash, oscillate, constantly move, be designed to illuminate the roadway around the motorcycle or otherwise be a distraction.
Section Two - Effective date.
Justification
One of the most critical elements of motorcycle safety is ensuring the best visibility possible. Current law does not allow side lamps, reduc- ing the visibility of motorcycles from the side. This bill would permit, but not require, motorcycles to have appropriate side reflectors or lamps that will make motorcycles more visible to other motorists.
Prior legislative history
2015-16 - S.4462/A.6522 - PASSED SENATE/Transportation 2017-18 - S.3236 - PASSED SENATE
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.