What's happening
This bill allows certain licensed medical professionals with a special placard to park for up to one hour where parking is otherwise prohibited while attending to a patient.
Why it matters
Expands access for healthcare professionals to reach patients quickly. By allowing certain medical professionals to park in otherwise prohibited areas (except where stopping/standing is banned), the bill can help them respond more efficiently to patient needs, especially in emergencies or home visits.
Introduces a regulated placard system. The bill establishes a special, annually verified placard (with a unique serial number) for eligible professionals, ensuring only licensed, active practitioners can use this parking privilege, which helps prevent misuse.
Balances public parking rules with community health needs. Limiting the exemption to one hour and excluding no-stopping/no-standing zones seeks to prevent abuse while still prioritizing patient care, aiming to reduce barriers for medical professionals without significantly disrupting overall traffic enforcement.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Medical Workers Parking
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7809
IN SENATE
February 24, 2020
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 parking regulations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1203 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
(e) Where parking is prohibited by signs, but not where stopping or standing is prohibited, a duly licensed physician, visiting nurse, nurse as defined in article one hundred thirty-nine of the education law, physical therapist or chiropractor may park his/her motor vehicle, identified by a special placard issued by the commissioner pursuant to section four hundred four-ff of this chapter, for a period not to exceed one hour while attending to a patient in the immediate vicinity.
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-ff to read as follows:
§ 404-ff. Distinctive placard for licensed physicians, visiting nurses, nurses, physical therapists and chiropractors. 1. Any duly licensed physician, visiting nurse, nurse, physical therapist or chiropractor in this state shall, upon request, be issued a distinctive placard bearing a unique serial number in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe. Application for said placard shall be filed with the commissioner and shall be verified annually by the applicant.
2. The distinctive placard authorized in subdivision one of this section shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is presently a duly licensed physician, visiting nurse, nurse, physical therapist or chiropractor.
3. A distinctive placard issued pursuant to this section shall be issued upon payment of an initial one time service charge to be prescribed by the commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14996-01-0
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 parking regulations
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill permits licensed physicians, nurses, physical therapists and chiropractors to apply for, and receive, a parking placard for use during home visits.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new subdivision (e) to section 1203 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to allow physicians, nurses, physical therapists and chiropractors to park for up to an hour in areas prohibited by signs, if these providers have a parking placard.
Section 2 adds a new section 404-ff to the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to set the process by which to receive a placard, including proof to the commissioner and the payment of a one time fee.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
Justification
Local ordinances have traditionally given parking privileges to visiting doctors, yet it is more often nurses, physical therapists and chiroprac- tors who are attending to patients in these homes. These providers, who often visit many patients across a wide geographic area during the day, rely upon their cars to get to each patient. However, it is often becoming more difficult to park near a patient's residence, especially in dense urban areas, due to congested streets and fewer parking spaces. This results in these providers often having to park a longer distance from their patient's residence, adding additional time to the provider's commute. Additionally, walking further outside increases security risks for the providers, especially when transporting prescribed medication to the patient.
Passing this legislation will provide for a new process for physicians, nurses, physical therapists and chiropractors to get a parking placard. Prior to giving out a placard, the commissioner will have to be satis- fied by proof that the applicant is duly licensed, and the placard issue will contain a unique serial number, which combined will cut down on any potential abuse of the system. Finally, limiting the parking time to up to an hour will allow providers adequate time to visit their patient, while minimalizing the impact on our streets.
Legislative history
2015-16: 5.3182 (Stavisky/ A.1868 (Colton - referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
Anticipated net positive revenue to the state, due to the imposition of a fee on applicants.
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.