What's happening
This bill expands the definition of "drug" in vehicle and traffic law and requires license suspension pending prosecution for alleged drug-impaired driving.
Why it matters
Broadens what counts as a "drug" for impaired driving laws,. including not just substances listed in the public health law and cannabis, but now any "drug or impairing substance," potentially covering a wider range of prescription, over-the-counter, and novel substances.
Mandates immediate suspension of a driver’s license after being charged with drug-impaired driving,. even before a conviction, which could significantly impact individuals’ ability to drive for work, family, or personal needs while awaiting court outcomes.
Increases the stakes for drivers using legally obtained substances. (such as certain medications or newly emerging substances), as these could now qualify as "impairing substances," raising the possibility of license suspension and prosecution even for some lawful use.
Signals a tougher legal approach to driving under the influence of any impairing agent,. aiming to improve road safety but also potentially leading to more legal challenges and debates over what substances actually impair driving and how impairment is determined.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Suspend Licenses for Drugged Driving
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
620
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to drugged driving
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 114-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 92 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
§ 114-a. Drug. The term "drug" when used in this chapter, means [and includes any substance listed in section thirty-three hundred six of the public health law and] cannabis and concentrated cannabis as defined in section 222.00 of the penal law and any drug or impairing substance.
§ 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 of section 1193 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 8 to read as follows:
(8) Suspension pending prosecution; drug impairment. Except as provided in clause a-1 of subparagraph seven of this paragraph, a court shall suspend a driver's license, pending prosecution, of any person charged with a violation of subdivision four or four-a of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this article who, at the time of arrest, is alleged to have been ability impaired by drugs.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02424-01-5
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.