What's happening
This bill prohibits drivers and passengers in ride-share vehicles from legally consenting to sexual activity with each other during rides.
Why it matters
Redefines consent in ride-share settings. The bill establishes that passengers and drivers in ride-share vehicles (like Uber or Lyft) cannot legally consent to sexual activity with each other during rides, regardless of whether both parties verbally agree, due to the inherent power dynamic and context.
Aligns ride-share dynamics with other protected relationships. By treating ride-share drivers and passengers similarly to law enforcement and detainees regarding consent, the law recognizes the potential for coercion or exploitation in these situations, aiming to prevent abuse and protect vulnerable individuals.
Could impact legal and professional consequences. Drivers (and passengers) engaging in sexual activity during a paid ride could face criminal charges, even if both parties say it was consensual, leading to stricter legal liability and reinforcing professional boundaries in the ride-share industry.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No Sex in Ride Shares
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1651
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the ability of a fare-paying passenger in a transportation network company vehicle and the driver of such vehicle to consent to sexual activity inside the vehicle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (j) of subdivision 3 of section 130.05 of the penal law, as added by section 1 of part JJ of chapter 55 of the laws of 2018, is amended and two new paragraphs (l) and (m) are added to read as follows:
(j) detained or otherwise in the custody of a police officer, peace officer, or other law enforcement official and the actor is a police officer, peace officer or other law enforcement official who either: (i) is detaining or maintaining custody of such person; or (ii) knows, or reasonably should know, that at the time of the offense, such person was detained or in custody[.]; or
(l) a passenger who entered a transportation network company vehicle, as defined in section sixteen hundred ninety-one of the vehicle and traffic law, in anticipation of a fare being paid or after a fare has been paid, for transportation, is inside said transportation network company vehicle, and the actor is the driver of such vehicle; or
(m) a driver of a transportation network company vehicle, as defined in section sixteen hundred ninety-one of the vehicle and traffic law, who has allowed a passenger to enter the vehicle, in anticipation of a fare being paid or after a fare has been paid, for transportation, while the driver is inside such transportation network company vehicle, and the actor is a passenger in such vehicle.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04044-01-5
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.