What's happening
This bill requires new car buyers to complete a form authorizing or rejecting a police-approved tracking device to help recover stolen vehicles.
Why it matters
Increases consumer choice and awareness. by requiring all new car buyers to make an active decision—authorize or reject—regarding installation of a law enforcement-approved tracking device, ensuring buyers are informed about the availability of this anti-theft tool.
Establishes clear privacy boundaries. by mandating that law enforcement can only access tracking data if the vehicle is officially reported stolen, limiting potential misuse of tracking technology.
May enhance vehicle recovery rates. by streamlining police access to tracking devices when a car is stolen, potentially leading to faster recoveries and deterring theft.
Introduces new responsibilities for dealerships. to provide, explain, and collect the tracking authorization form before completing a sale, possibly affecting sales processes and staff training.
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Who cares
New vehicle buyers
Buyers would have to complete a form accepting or rejecting a tracking device before completing the sale, with authorization allowing police to track and recover the vehicle if officially reported stolen.
Motor vehicle dealers
Dealers would have to provide the form at the point of sale and install a State Police-approved tracking device if the purchaser authorizes it.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The commissioner would have to develop the authorization form, including permission for law enforcement to recover stolen vehicles electronically, physically or by other necessary means.
State Police and other law enforcement agencies
State Police would approve tracking devices, and law enforcement could access and use them only after an official stolen-vehicle report to locate and recover the vehicle.
Headline styles
Let Buyers Choose Vehicle Tracker
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1076
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. BUTTENSCHON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to mandating that purchasers of new vehicles complete a form authorizing or rejecting the placement of a tracking device in such vehicle, to be used by law enforcement if such vehicle is reported stolen
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 397-d to read as follows:
§ 397-d. Motor vehicle theft tracker. 1. The commissioner shall develop an authorization form, to be provided to new motor vehicle purchasers at the point of sale by the motor vehicle dealer, that authorizes a tracking device approved by the state police to be placed in such new motor vehicle and allows law enforcement to track such motor vehicle if such motor vehicle is reported as stolen. Such form shall give new motor vehicle purchasers the option to authorize or reject the placement of such tracking device, and shall be completed before the sale of such new motor vehicle is complete. Such form shall also include authorization for law enforcement to recover the stolen vehicle through electronic means, physical means, or any other method necessary to recover such vehicle as quickly as possible.
2. If a purchaser authorizes the placement of a tracking device pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the motor vehicle dealer shall place such approved tracking device in the new motor vehicle. A law enforcement agency or entity shall only access and utilize such device if such motor vehicle is reported as stolen through an official police report, to locate and recover such vehicle.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02766-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.