Source: http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senator-fuschillo-announces-senate-passage-legislation-improve-teenage-driver-safety
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 14:24:32
Document Index: 690769165

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 501', '§ 503', '§ 501', '§ 502', '§ 503', '§ 509']

SENATOR FUSCHILLO ANNOUNCES SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE TEENAGE DRIVER SAFETY | New York State Senate
Posted by Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. announced that the state Senate recently passed legislation he supports to strengthen teen driving training requirements and prevent teenage driving deaths.
TITLE OF BILL:An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the gradu-ated licensing program; to repeal section 503-a of such law relatingthereto; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expira-tion thereof PURPOSE OF THE BILL:This bill would enhance highway safety by strengthening the Vehicle andTraffic Law ("VTL") graduated licensing program provisions for safety ofjunior drivers and their passengers and by limiting driver distractionand inattention by prohibiting the use of portable electronic deviceswhile driving. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:Section 1 of the bill would amend VTL, § 501(4) to eliminate the refer-ence to limited class DJ and MJ licenses (which is a conforming amend-ment consistent with the repeal of VTL § 503-a which authorizes suchlicenses). Holders of DJ and MJ class learner's permits who complete aroad test can currently receive a limited class DJ or MJ license if suchroad test is taken less than 6 months after the permit was issued. Alimited class DJ or MJ license permits persons over the age of sixteen,but under the age of eighteen, to operate passenger vehicles and trucksor motorcycles, respectively, and becomes a DJ or MJ license after sixmonths.Section 2 of the bill would amend VTL g 501-b(c) and (d) to reduce fromtwo to one, the number of non-family passengers under the age of twen-ty-one who may be a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by the holderof a DJ or MJ learner's permit when not accompanied by a duly licensedparent, guardian, or person in a position of loco parents. The amend-ment to paragraph (d) would require that a DJ or MJ permit be held forat least six months before a DJ/MJ license is issued.Section 3 of the bill would amend VTL § 501-b(2) of the VTL to reduce,from two to one, the number of non-family passengers under the age oftwenty-one who may be a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by theholder of a DJ or MJ license.Section 4 of the bill would add a new § VTL 1225-d to prohibit the useof portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle while inmotion. A summons for operating a motor vehicle while using a portableelectronic device shall only be issued when there is reasonable cause tobelieve that the person operating the motor vehicle has committed aseparate violation of the law.Section 5 of the bill would amend VTL § 502(2)(d) to increase the numberof supervised driving hours that an applicant's parent or guardian mustcertify (in writing) that the applicant for a DJ or MJ license has had(before the applicant may take a road test), from 20 to 50 hours, andalso to require that at least 15 of those practice driving hours beafter sunset.Section 6 of the bill would repeal VTL § 503-a which provides for theissuance of limited class DJ and MJ licenses.Section 7 of the bill would amend VTL § 509(3) to clarify that not onlyis a person prohibited from operating a motor vehicle in violation ofrestrictions that are contained on his/her driver's lice