What's happening
This bill suspends a vehicle registration for six months after a third offense of illegally passing a stopped school bus within eighteen months.
Why it matters
Increases consequences for repeat offenders. By mandating a six-month suspension of vehicle registration after a third offense of illegally passing a stopped school bus within eighteen months, the bill aims to create a stronger deterrent against repeated violations, directly targeting those who disregard school bus safety laws.
Closes potential loopholes. The bill empowers the commissioner to deny registration or renewal for any other vehicle registered in the violator’s name if there is evidence the registrant is attempting to evade the suspension (such as transferring vehicles to different names or addresses), making it harder for habitual offenders to sidestep penalties.
Prioritizes child safety. The strengthened penalty reflects a legislative intent to protect children getting on and off school buses by making the risks and consequences for illegal passing more severe, potentially reducing the frequency of dangerous incidents around school buses.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Suspend Registration After Bus Violations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1081
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5727
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 13, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 suspending a registration after a third violation for overtaking and passing a stopped school bus
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as relettered by chapter 487 of the laws of 1993, is relettered paragraph d and a new paragraph c is added to read as follows:
c. Upon determination that a registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter for a third violation of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter within an eighteen month period, the commissioner or his or her agent shall thereupon suspend the registrant's registration for a period of six months, and shall deny any registration or renewal applications for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent has been to evade the purposes of this subdivision and where the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration or renewal will have the effect of defeating the purposes of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after a chapter of the laws of 2019 amending the vehicle and traffic law relating to school bus safety cameras and owner liability for operator illegally overtaking or passing a school bus, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S.4524-B and A.4950-B takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11667-01-9
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 suspending a registration after a third violation for over- taking and passing a stopped school bus
Purpose
This bill allows for the suspension of a vehicle's registration after a third violation caught on a school bus camera within an 18 month period.
Summary of provisions
Section One amends subdivision 5a of section 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new paragraph allowing for the suspension of a vehicle's registration for a third violation within 18 months.
Section two sets the effective date.
Justification
Every day, an estimated 50,000 cars pass a stopped school bus in New York State, putting the lives of schoolchildren at risk. While New York is poised to allow school bus cameras to catch violators, nothing in the bill allows for the suspension of a car's registration for repeat offen- ders.
As an additional deterrent to passing a stopped school bus, this bill would allow the DMV to suspend a vehicle's registration for a third camera violation within an 18 month period. Any registration suspension would be for a period of six months. By enacting this legislation, New York will take greater action in addressing the crisis of vehicles pass- ing stopped school buses, and would add an additional deterrent to motorists in the state.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after a chapter of the laws of 2019 amending the vehicle and traffic law relating to school bus safety cameras and owner liability for operator illegally overtaking or passing a school bus, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S.4524B and A.4950B takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.