What's happening
This bill requires all applicants renewing a driver's license in New York to complete and pass a vision test.
Why it matters
Mandates a vision test for every driver's license renewal. This change ensures that all renewing drivers must either pass a vision test administered by the DMV or provide a certification from a healthcare professional, directly addressing concerns about deteriorating eyesight among drivers over time.
Shifts responsibility onto the applicant to prove adequate vision. Previously, vision requirements could be more loosely interpreted; now, applicants must actively demonstrate their visual fitness, potentially reducing the number of drivers on the road with uncorrected vision problems.
Allows flexibility in how vision is certified. Applicants can either take the test at the DMV or submit a certification from a range of qualified professionals (physicians, optometrists, nurse practitioners, etc.), making compliance more accessible while still upholding safety standards.
Aims to improve road safety for all. By tightening vision requirements at renewal, the bill seeks to reduce accidents and injuries caused by impaired vision, which can be especially important as New York’s driver population ages.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Vision Test for License
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
391
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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 requiring applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to complete a vision test
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 3 of part K of chapter 59 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A license issued pursuant to subdivision five of this section shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless such license is suspended, revoked or cancelled. Such license may be renewed by submission of an application for renewal, the fee prescribed by law, proofs of prior licensing, fitness and acceptable vision prescribed by the commissioner, the applicant's social security number, and if required by the commissioner a photo image of the applicant in such numbers and form as the commissioner shall prescribe. Such proof of acceptable vision shall require the applicant to pass a vision test administered by the commissioner or his or her agent, or to submit a certification, signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, optometrist or optician, attesting that the applicant has adequate vision to operate a motor vehicle as determined by the commissioner. In addition, an applicant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous material endorsement shall pass an examination to retain such endorsement. The commissioner shall, with respect to the renewal of a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with the requirements imposed upon states by sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regulations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by the commissioner upon approval of such application, except that no such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03496-01-9
S. 391 2
license shall be issued if its issuance would be inconsistent with the provisions of section five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commissioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is the holder of a currently valid or renewable license to drive issued by another state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth 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, in relation to requiring applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to complete a vision test
Purpose
To require applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to submit proof of acceptable vision to operate a motor vehicle.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 3 of part K of chapter 59 of the laws of 2009.
Justification
This bill would codify New York State Department of Motor Vehicles poli- cy to require people applying to renew their driver's license to certify that they have adequate vision that would allow them to properly operate a motor vehicle.
New York State has over 11 million licensed drivers on the road. If two percent of those drivers failed an eye exam, that would translate into hundreds of thousands of seeing impaired drivers on our roads statewide.
This bill will ensure an atmosphere that is safe for our motorists. It is a common sense measure that will work to achieve those ends.
Such proof of acceptable vision shall require the applicant either to take a vision test administered at a DMV office or submit a certif- ication signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, optometrist or optician attesting that the applicant has adequate vision to operate a motor vehicle.
Legislative history
2018: S.3542 - Third Reading Calendar/A.6544 - Referred to Transporta- tion 2017: S.3542 - Passed Senate/A.6544- Referred to Transportation 2016: S.2851 - Passed Senate 2015: S.2851 - Passed Senate 2014: S.4140 - Passed Senate/A.6172- Referred to Transportation 2012: S.5904 - Referred to Transportation/A.8803 - Referred to Transpor- tation 2011: S.5904 - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth 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.