What's happening
This bill requires the New York driver's manual and driver education courses to include information on law enforcement procedures and appropriate motorist actions during traffic stops.
Why it matters
Aims to improve safety and clarity during traffic stops. by ensuring all new drivers receive standardized information on what to expect from law enforcement procedures and how to appropriately interact with officers, potentially reducing misunderstandings or escalation.
Mandates educational consistency statewide. so that both the driver's manual and all driver education courses cover these topics, creating a uniform baseline of knowledge for all permit applicants and students.
Responds to broader concerns about police-civilian interactions. by explicitly requiring education on motorists' rights and responsibilities, which may help empower drivers—especially young or inexperienced ones—while also supporting law enforcement's efforts to conduct stops safely.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Driver's Manual Requirements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3054
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- 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 and the education law, in relation to updating the driver's manual provided to accepted learner's permit applicants and driver education courses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
3. Application for learner's permit. An application for a learner's permit shall be included in the application for a license. A learner's permit shall be issued in such form as the commissioner shall determine but shall not be issued unless the applicant has successfully passed the vision test required by this section and the test set forth in paragraph (a) of subdivision four of this section with respect to laws relating to traffic and ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols and has satisfactorily completed any course required pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision four of this section. Upon acceptance of an application for a learner's permit the commissioner shall provide the applicant with a driver's manual which includes but is not limited to the laws relating to traffic, the laws relating to and physiological effects of driving while ability impaired and driving while intoxicated, the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, explanations of traffic signs and symbols, a description of law enforcement procedures during traffic stops and the actions a motorist shall take during such stop including appropriate interactions with such officers and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 806-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 644 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09166-01-9
S. 3054 2
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all school districts providing instruction in driver education shall include in such instruction: (a) a driver safety component with an emphasis on the effects of alcohol and drug use, (b) instruction in motorcycle safety awareness, and (c) a description of law enforcement procedures during traffic stops and the actions a motorist shall take during such stop including appropriate interactions with such officers. The commissioner, upon approval by the commissioner of motor vehicles, shall establish a curriculum for the alcohol and drug education component which shall include but not be limited to: instruction describing the hazards of driving while impaired or intoxicated; the penalties for alcohol related motor vehicle violations including sanctions set forth in the penal law that apply to homicides and assaults arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated and those sanctions set forth in the vehicle and traffic law relating to driving while intoxicated; and the medical, biological and physiological effects of the consumption of alcohol and their impact on the operation of a motor vehicle.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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 vehicle and traffic law and the education law, in relation to updating the driver's manual provided to accepted learner's permit applicants and driver education courses
Purpose
To provide drivers with a description of law enforcement procedures during traffic stops and the actions a motorist shall take during such stops to include appropriate interactions with police officers.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends Subdivision 3 of Section 502 of the vehi- cle and traffic law and Subdivision I of section 806-a of the education law.
Existing law
Vehicle and Traffic Law; Education Law.
Justification
Changes to the driver's handbook provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles will provide drivers with information on the procedures used by law enforcement during a traffic stop and how to properly interact with law enforcement.
Legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.