What's happening
This bill allows people to avoid certain parking tickets if they were attending religious services.
Why it matters
This bill specifically impacts drivers in New York City. , as it amends rules that apply to violations of city traffic codes (like standing, stopping, or parking in bus lanes and certain other restricted areas).
It creates a new legal defense for individuals who receive tickets while attending religious services. , potentially benefiting people who observe regular worship, including those whose religious practices coincide with restricted parking times.
The change could reduce revenue from certain parking fines and affect traffic enforcement near places of worship. , possibly making it easier for congregants to access religious services but raising concerns about fairness and consistency in parking rules.
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Who cares
Religious Community Members
Individuals who regularly attend religious services, particularly those who drive to worship in New York City, will directly benefit from the new affirmative defense against certain parking violations.
Religious Institutions and Leaders
Organizations and leaders concerned with the accessibility of their services for congregants who face parking challenges will be interested in how this legislation may facilitate higher attendance.
City Transportation and Parking Enforcement Agencies
Agencies responsible for enforcing parking regulations and managing bus lanes will need to adjust enforcement policies and may experience operational impacts.
- Likely concerns
Public Transit and Bus Lane Advocates
Stakeholders focused on maintaining the efficiency of bus lanes and public transit may have concerns about potential increases in unauthorized parking during religious service times.
Headline styles
Allow Religious Parking Defense
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
10243
IN SENATE
May 8, 2026
Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- 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 establishing an affirmative defense to certain parking violations for individuals attending religious services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1111-c of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision (p) to read as follows:
(p) It shall be an affirmative defense to any notice of liability issued for standing, stopping, or parking in a bus lane in violation of the applicable provisions of section 4-08 of chapter four of title thirty-four of the rules of the city of New York pursuant to a bus rapid transit program adopted pursuant to this section that the operator of the vehicle was attending religious services at the time of such violation.
§ 2. Section 1111-c-1 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision (r) to read as follows:
(r) It shall be an affirmative defense to any notice of liability issued for a violation of section 4-08(e)(9) or 4-08(f)(4) of chapter four of title thirty-four of the rules of the city of New York pursuant to a demonstration program adopted pursuant to this section that the operator of the vehicle was attending religious services at the time of such violation.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided however that the amendments to sections 1111-c and 1111-c-1 of the vehicle and traffic law made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such sections and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15779-01-6
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 establishing an affirmative defense to certain parking violations for individuals attending religious services
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to mitigate issues presented by bus lane and bicycle lane cameras with respect to individuals attending religious services.
Summary of provisions
Creates an affirmative defense to NOV's.
Justification
Houses of worship widely serve as a hub for religious services and community events. Bus and bicycle lane cameras capture pictures and Notice of Violations are issued, but they do not capture the nuance and circumstance of every situation. For those that worship and must travel via car, for decades it was customary to double park for services. With the advent of automatic violation generating camera programs, this tradition has been turned on its head. This impact will and has led to frustration among local neighborhoods.
While these zones were designed to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, highly dense populations impose higher off-street parking require- ments. This is extremely difficult for houses of worship to meet parking needs without large, costly parking areas, which may be unfeasible or impossible in these settings.
It is pertinent to acknowledge that these zones inflicting bus lanes or bicycle lane cameras aim to alleviate traffic congestion and improve traffic. However, they can inadvertently reduce accessibility to reli- gious services, inconvenience residents, and limit these institutions' role as a community asset. Balancing these goals with mobility needs and equitable access is key to minimizing these negative impacts.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.