What's happening
This bill prohibits vessels from operating in New York navigable waters with digital billboards displaying flashing or moving lights, with certain local exceptions and penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Addresses visual pollution and safety. By banning digital billboards with flashing or moving lights on vessels, the bill aims to reduce visual distractions on the water, which could enhance navigational safety for boaters and protect scenic views for residents and tourists.
Defines what counts as a digital billboard. The legislation specifically targets outdoor advertising signs that use computer-controlled digital images, clarifying that not all electronic displays are included, but focusing on those used for advertising or public service announcements.
Empowers local communities. The bill allows for local exceptions—municipalities can pass their own laws to permit digital billboards on vessels within 1,500 feet of their shores, giving local governments some control over advertising in their waters.
Imposes meaningful penalties. Violations are both criminal (misdemeanor) and civil, with escalating fines ($1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for repeat offenses), signaling the state’s intent to strictly enforce these restrictions and deter non-compliance.
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
Ban Digital Billboards on Boats
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 41–21
- Ordered to third reading cal.1358
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6083
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in relation to prohibiting vessels from operating in navigable waters while equipped with a digital billboard
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The navigation law is amended by adding a new section 43-a to read as follows:
§ 43-a. Use of digital billboards. 1. All vessels shall be prohibited from operating, anchoring or mooring in the navigable waters of the state while equipped with a digital billboard that uses flashing, intermittent or moving lights.
2. As used in this section, the term "digital billboard" shall mean a one or two sided outdoor advertising sign that displays digital images which are changed by a computer in intervals and are used for either advertising or public service purposes.
3. This section shall not apply to instances in which a local law has been enacted pursuant to section forty-six-a of this part which expressly authorizes vessels to use such digital billboards within one thousand five hundred feet off of its shore.
4. A violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall also be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars for the first violation, and five thousand dollars for all subsequent violations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11056-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the navigation law, in relation to prohibiting vessels from operating in navigable waters while equipped with a digital billboard
Summary of specific provisions
This bill adds a new Section 43-a to the Navigation Law to prohibit vessels from operating, anchoring, or mooring in the navigable waters of the state while equipped with a digital billboard that uses flashing, intermittent or moving lights.
The bill would allow localities to adopt local laws to expressly author- ize vessels to use digital billboards within 1500 feet off their shores.
A violation of the bill would constitute a misdemeanor and would also be punishable by a civil penalty of $1,500 for the first violation and $5,000 for all subsequent violations.
Justification
Vessels operating in the navigable waters of the state that are equipped with electronic billboards are a potential public nuisance and public safety hazard. They can be distracting to fellow boaters, and mar the otherwise beautiful environment of our local waterways with unwanted advertisements.
This bill would prohibit vessels from operating, anchoring, or mooring in the navigable waters of the state while equipped with a digital bill- board that uses flashing, intermittent, or moving lights.
Local governments would, at local option, be allowed to authorize vessels to be equipped with these billboards within 1,500 feet from their shores.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.