What's happening
This bill requires all passengers in New York City taxicabs and for-hire vehicles to wear seatbelts and mandates visible notice of this law.
Why it matters
Expands personal responsibility for safety. By requiring all passengers (not just front-seat or minors) to wear seatbelts in NYC taxis and for-hire vehicles, the bill aims to reduce injuries and fatalities in the event of accidents, making backseat and adult passengers equally accountable for their own safety.
Shifts enforcement and liability. The bill makes passengers, not drivers, responsible for wearing seatbelts, except when the passenger is a child under 16, in which case the parent or guardian present is held accountable. This reduces legal exposure for drivers and focuses penalties on those who fail to buckle up.
Clarifies exceptions and definitions. Passengers with certified physical disabilities are exempt, and the bill standardizes what constitutes an “appropriate child restraint system,” aligning requirements with federal safety standards—potentially improving clarity and compliance for families and caregivers.
Promotes awareness through mandatory signage. By requiring visible notices in all applicable vehicles, the legislation seeks to ensure that both residents and visitors are aware of the seatbelt law, supporting education and enforcement efforts and potentially changing rider habits over time.
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
Seatbelts Required in NYC Cabs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
227
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the use of seatbelts by passengers in taxicabs and for-hire vehicles in the city of New York and requiring operators to display a notice informing passengers of such requirement
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 19-529 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding three new subdivisions e, f and g to read as follows:
e. Notwithstanding the provisions of section twelve hundred twentynine-c of the vehicle and traffic law, while taxicabs or for-hire vehicles subject to this section are being operated:
(1) All passengers one year and older shall be restrained by either: (i) a combination lap safety and shoulder harness belt; (ii) a lap safety belt; or (iii) in an appropriate child restraint system as defined in subdivision f of this section with combination lap and shoulder harness belts.
(2) Any passenger who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be punished by a civil fine of up to fifty dollars. A police officer shall only issue a summons for a violation of this subdivision by a person less than sixteen years old to the parent or guardian of such person if the violation by such person occurs in the presence of such person's parent or guardian and where such parent or guardian is sixteen years of age or older. For the purposes of this subdivision, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that, when a passenger under the age of sixteen is traveling in a taxicab or a for-hire vehicle, any other passenger in such taxicab or for-hire vehicle who reasonably appears to be the parent or guardian of such passenger under the age of sixteen is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05478-01-9
S. 227 2
the parent or guardian of such passenger under the age of sixteen. No person operating such taxicab or for-hire vehicle shall be subject to a civil fine for the failure of a passenger to comply with the provisions of this subdivision.
(3) The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a passenger with a physically disabling condition whose physical disability would prevent appropriate restraint in such safety seat or safety belt provided, however, such condition is duly certified by a physician who shall state the nature of the handicap, as well as the reason such restraint is inappropriate.
f. For the purposes of this section, the term "appropriate child restraint system" shall mean any device, used in conjunction with safety belts, designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children and which meets the applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. 571.213, and for which the occupant meets the occupant size and weight recommendations of the manufacturer of such system.
g. (1) Every taxicab and for-hire vehicle subject to this section shall display a notice within the taxicab or for-hire vehicle which states the requirements of this section in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.
(2) Any taxicab or for-hire vehicle which violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty, not to exceed one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the use of seatbelts by passengers in taxicabs and for-hire vehicles in the city of New York and requiring operators to display a notice informing passengers of such requirement
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 19-529 of the New York City admin- istrative code by adding three new subdivisions, (e), (f), and (g).
The new subdivision (e) states that, notwithstanding the exemptions for taxicabs found in section 1229-c of the state vehicle and traffic law, all passengers age one year or older in a taxicab or for-hire vehicle shall be restrained by a safety belt approved by the commissioner. Any person who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be punished by a civil fine of up to fifty dollars.
The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a passenger with a physically disabling condition whose physical disability would prevent appropriate restraint in such safety seat or safety belt provided, however, such condition as duly certified by a physician who shall state the nature of the handicap, as well as the reason such restraint is inappropriate.
The new subdivision (f) defines the term "appropriate child restraint system."
The new subdivision (g) states that every taxicab and for-hire vehicle shall display a notice within the taxicab or for-hire vehicle which detailing the safety belt requirements, in a form and location to be determined by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Any taxicab or for-hire vehicle which violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty, not to exceed one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
Justification
Seat belts save lives and help prevent serious injuries in a traffic crash. This is why New York State requires seat belt use in motor vehi- cles.
Inexplicably, New York State exempts seat belt use for passengers in taxis or for-hire vehicles. The damage and trauma of a passenger not wearing a seatbelt in a taxi or for-hire vehicle during a crash is exactly the same as those passengers hurt while riding in any other type of motor vehicle.
This legislation requires passengers in taxis and for-hire vehicles operating in New York City to wear safety belts while the vehicles are operating.
Legislative history
S.0123 of 2017-2018 (Hoylman): Died in Cities S.4834-A of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died A.7311-A of 2015-2016 (Kavanagh): Died S.5907-A of 2013-2014 (Hoylman): Died in Rules (2015)/Died in Cities (2016) in Transportation in Rules(2013)/Died in Cities (2014)
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.