2023 New York Laws › VAT - Vehicle and Traffic › Title 7 - Rules of the Road › Article 30 - Speed Restrictions › 1180-F*2 - Owner Liability for Failure of Operator to Comply With Certain Posted Maximum Speed Limits.

* §  1180-f.  Owner  liability  for failure of operator to comply with
certain posted maximum speed limits. (a) 1.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision of law, the city of Syracuse is hereby authorized to establish
a  demonstration  program  imposing monetary liability on the owner of a
vehicle for failure of an operator thereof to comply with posted maximum
speed limits in a school speed zone within such city (i) when  a  school
speed  limit  is  in  effect  as  provided  in paragraphs one and two of
subdivision (c) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article or (ii)
when other speed limits are in effect as provided  in  subdivision  (b),
(d),  (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article during
the following times: (A) on school days during school hours and one hour
before and one hour after the  school  day,  and  (B)  a  period  during
student  activities  at  the school and up to thirty minutes immediately
before  and  up  to  thirty  minutes  immediately  after  such   student
activities.  Such  demonstration  program  shall  empower  the  city  of
Syracuse to install photo speed violation monitoring systems  within  no
more  than  thirty-four  school  speed zones within such city at any one
time and to operate such systems within such zones (iii) when  a  school
speed  limit  is  in  effect  as  provided  in paragraphs one and two of
subdivision (c) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article or (iv)
when other speed limits are in effect as provided  in  subdivision  (b),
(d),  (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article during
the following times: (A) on school days during school hours and one hour
before and one hour after the  school  day,  and  (B)  a  period  during
student  activities  at  the school and up to thirty minutes immediately
before  and  up  to  thirty  minutes  immediately  after  such   student
activities.  In  selecting  a  school speed zone in which to install and
operate a photo  speed  violation  monitoring  system,  the  city  shall
consider  criteria  including, but not limited to, the speed data, crash
history, and the roadway geometry applicable to such school speed zone.
2. No photo speed violation monitoring  system  shall  be  used  in  a
school  speed  zone  unless  (i)  on  the  day  it  is to be used it has
successfully passed a self-test  of  its  functions;  and  (ii)  it  has
undergone  an  annual  calibration check performed pursuant to paragraph
four of this subdivision. The city shall  install  signs  giving  notice
that  a  photo speed violation monitoring system is in use to be mounted
on advance warning signs  notifying  motor  vehicle  operators  of  such
upcoming school speed zone and/or on speed limit signs applicable within
such school speed zone, in conformance with standards established in the
MUTCD.
3.  Operators  of  photo speed violation monitoring systems shall have
completed training in  the  procedures  for  setting  up,  testing,  and
operating  such  systems.  Each  such operator shall complete and sign a
daily set-up log for each such system that he or she operates  that  (i)
states  the  date  and time when, and the location where, the system was
set up that  day,  and  (ii)  states  that  such  operator  successfully
performed,  and  the system passed, the self-tests of such system before
producing a recorded image that day. The city  shall  retain  each  such
daily log until the later of the date on which the photo speed violation
monitoring  system to which it applies has been permanently removed from
use or the final resolution of all cases involving notices of  liability
issued  based  on  photographs,  microphotographs,  videotape  or  other
recorded images produced by such system.
4. Each photo speed  violation  monitoring  system  shall  undergo  an
annual   calibration  check  performed  by  an  independent  calibration
laboratory which shall issue a signed certificate  of  calibration.  The
city  shall  keep  each  such  annual certificate of calibration on file
until the final resolution of all cases involving a notice of  liability

issued   during   such   year   which   were   based   on   photographs,
microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images  produced  by  such
photo speed violation monitoring system.
5. (i) Such demonstration program shall utilize necessary technologies
to    ensure,    to    the   extent   practicable,   that   photographs,
microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images  produced  by  such
photo  speed  violation monitoring systems shall not include images that
identify the driver, the passengers, or the  contents  of  the  vehicle.
Provided,  however,  that no notice of liability issued pursuant to this
section  shall  be  dismissed  solely   because   such   a   photograph,
microphotograph,  videotape  or  other  recorded  image  allows  for the
identification of  the  driver,  the  passengers,  or  the  contents  of
vehicles  where the city shows that it made reasonable efforts to comply
with the provisions of this paragraph in such case.
(ii) Photographs, microphotographs, videotape or  any  other  recorded
image  from  a  photo speed violation monitoring system shall be for the
exclusive use of the  city  for  the  purpose  of  the  adjudication  of
liability  imposed pursuant to this section and of the owner receiving a
notice of liability pursuant to this section, and shall be destroyed  by
the  city  upon the final resolution of the notice of liability to which
such photographs, microphotographs, videotape or other  recorded  images
relate,  or  one  year  following the date of issuance of such notice of
liability, whichever is later. Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  any
other   law,   rule   or   regulation   to  the  contrary,  photographs,
microphotographs, videotape or any other recorded  image  from  a  photo
speed  violation  monitoring system shall not be open to the public, nor
subject to civil or criminal process or discovery, nor used by any court
or administrative or adjudicatory  body  in  any  action  or  proceeding
therein  except that which is necessary for the adjudication of a notice
of liability issued pursuant to this section, and no  public  entity  or
employee,  officer  or  agent  thereof  shall disclose such information,
except that such photographs, microphotographs, videotape or  any  other
recorded images from such systems:
(A) shall be available for inspection and copying and use by the motor
vehicle   owner   and   operator   for  so  long  as  such  photographs,
microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images are required to  be
maintained or are maintained by such public entity, employee, officer or
agent; and
(B)  (1)  shall be furnished when described in a search warrant issued
by a court authorized to issue such a search warrant pursuant to article
six hundred ninety of the criminal procedure  law  or  a  federal  court
authorized  to issue such a search warrant under federal law, where such
search warrant states that there is reasonable  cause  to  believe  such
information  constitutes  evidence  of,  or tends to demonstrate that, a
misdemeanor or felony offense was committed in  this  state  or  another
state,  or  that a particular person participated in the commission of a
misdemeanor or felony offense in this state or another state,  provided,
however, that if such offense was against the laws of another state, the
court  shall only issue a warrant if the conduct comprising such offense
would, if occurring in this state, constitute a  misdemeanor  or  felony
against the laws of this state; and
(2) shall be furnished in response to a subpoena duces tecum signed by
a  judge  of  competent  jurisdiction and issued pursuant to article six
hundred ten of the criminal procedure law or a judge or magistrate of  a
federal  court  authorized  to  issue  such a subpoena duces tecum under
federal law, where the judge finds and the subpoena states that there is
reasonable cause to believe such information is relevant and material to
the prosecution, or the defense, or the investigation by  an  authorized

law  enforcement official, of the alleged commission of a misdemeanor or
felony in this state or another state, provided, however, that  if  such
offense  was against the laws of another state, such judge or magistrate
shall  only  issue  such subpoena if the conduct comprising such offense
would, if occurring in this state, constitute a misdemeanor or felony in
this state; and
(3) may, if lawfully obtained pursuant to this clause and  clause  (A)
of  this subparagraph and otherwise admissible, be used in such criminal
action or proceeding.
(b) If the  city  of  Syracuse  establishes  a  demonstration  program
pursuant  to  subdivision  (a)  of  this section, the owner of a vehicle
shall be liable for a penalty imposed pursuant to this section  if  such
vehicle  was  used or operated with the permission of the owner, express
or implied, within a school speed zone in violation of  subdivision  (c)
or  during  the  times  authorized  pursuant  to subdivision (a) of this
section in violation of subdivision (b), (d),  (f)  or  (g)  of  section
eleven  hundred  eighty of this article, such vehicle was traveling at a
speed of more than ten miles per hour above the posted  speed  limit  in
effect within such school speed zone, and such violation is evidenced by
information  obtained  from  a  photo speed violation monitoring system;
provided however that no owner of  a  vehicle  shall  be  liable  for  a
penalty  imposed  pursuant  to  this  section where the operator of such
vehicle has been convicted of the underlying  violation  of  subdivision
(b),  (c),  (d),  (f)  or  (g)  of section eleven hundred eighty of this
article.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall  have  the
following meanings:
1.  "manual  on uniform traffic control devices" or "MUTCD" shall mean
the manual and specifications for a uniform system  of  traffic  control
devices  maintained  by  the  commissioner of transportation pursuant to
section sixteen hundred eighty of this chapter;
2. "owner" shall have the meaning provided in article  two-B  of  this
chapter;
3.  "photo  speed  violation  monitoring  system" shall mean a vehicle
sensor installed to work in conjunction with a  speed  measuring  device
which  automatically  produces  two  or  more  photographs,  two or more
microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images of  each  vehicle
at  the  time it is used or operated in a school speed zone in violation
of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f)  or  (g)  of  section  eleven  hundred
eighty  of  this  article  in  accordance  with  the  provisions of this
section; and
4. "school speed zone"  shall  mean  a  distance  not  to  exceed  one
thousand  three  hundred  twenty  feet  on  a  highway  passing a school
building, entrance or exit of a school abutting on the highway.
(d) A certificate, sworn to or affirmed by a  technician  employed  by
the  city  of Syracuse, or a facsimile thereof, based upon inspection of
photographs,  microphotographs,  videotape  or  other  recorded   images
produced  by  a  photo speed violation monitoring system, shall be prima
facie  evidence  of  the  facts  contained  therein.  Any   photographs,
microphotographs,  videotape  or other recorded images evidencing such a
violation shall include at least two date and time stamped images of the
rear of the motor vehicle that include the same stationary  object  near
the  motor  vehicle  and shall be available for inspection reasonably in
advance of and at any proceeding to adjudicate the  liability  for  such
violation pursuant to this section.
(e)  An owner liable for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f)
or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article  pursuant  to  a
demonstration  program  established  pursuant  to  this section shall be

liable for monetary penalties in accordance with a schedule of fines and
penalties to be promulgated by the parking violations bureau of the city
of Syracuse. The liability of the owner pursuant to this  section  shall
not  exceed  fifty  dollars  for each violation; provided, however, that
such parking violations bureau may provide for an additional penalty not
in excess of twenty-five dollars for each violation for the  failure  to
respond to a notice of liability within the prescribed time period.
(f)  An  imposition  of  liability  under  the  demonstration  program
established pursuant to this section shall not be deemed a conviction as
an operator and shall not be made part of the operating  record  of  the
person  upon  whom  such  liability  is imposed nor shall it be used for
insurance purposes in the provision of motor vehicle insurance coverage.
(g) 1. A notice of liability shall be sent by first class mail to each
person alleged to be liable as an owner for a violation  of  subdivision
(b),  (c),  (d),  (f)  or  (g)  of section eleven hundred eighty of this
article pursuant to this section, within fourteen business days if  such
owner is a resident of this state and within forty-five business days if
such  owner  is a non-resident. Personal delivery on the owner shall not
be required. A manual or automatic record of  mailing  prepared  in  the
ordinary  course  of business shall be prima facie evidence of the facts
contained therein.
2. A notice of liability shall contain the name  and  address  of  the
person  alleged  to be liable as an owner for a violation of subdivision
(b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of  section  eleven  hundred  eighty  of  this
article pursuant to this section, the registration number of the vehicle
involved  in  such  violation,  the  location  where such violation took
place, the date and time of such violation, the identification number of
the camera which  recorded  the  violation  or  other  document  locator
number,  at  least  two  date and time stamped images of the rear of the
motor vehicle that include the same stationary  object  near  the  motor
vehicle, and the certificate charging the liability.
3.  The  notice  of  liability  shall contain information advising the
person charged of the manner and the time in which he or she may contest
the liability alleged in the notice. Such notice of liability shall also
contain a prominent warning to advise the person charged that failure to
contest in the manner and time provided shall be deemed an admission  of
liability and that a default judgment may be entered thereon.
4. The notice of liability shall be prepared and mailed by the city of
Syracuse,  or  by any other entity authorized by the city to prepare and
mail such notice of liability.
(h) Adjudication of the liability imposed upon owners of this  section
shall be by the city of Syracuse parking violations bureau.
(i)  If  an  owner  receives  a  notice  of liability pursuant to this
section for any time period during which the vehicle or the number plate
or plates of such vehicle was  reported  to  the  police  department  as
having  been  stolen,  it  shall  be a valid defense to an allegation of
liability for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f)  or  (g)  of
section  eleven  hundred eighty of this article pursuant to this section
that the vehicle or the number plate or plates of such vehicle had  been
reported  to  the  police  as  stolen  prior  to  the time the violation
occurred and had not been  recovered  by  such  time.  For  purposes  of
asserting  the  defense  provided  by  this  subdivision,  it  shall  be
sufficient that a certified copy of the  police  report  on  the  stolen
vehicle or number plate or plates of such vehicle be sent by first class
mail  to  the city of Syracuse parking violations bureau or by any other
entity authorized by the  city  to  prepare  and  mail  such  notice  of
liability.
(j)  Adjudication of the liability imposed upon owners of this section
shall be by the city of Syracuse parking violations bureau.
(k)  1.  An  owner  who  is a lessor of a vehicle to which a notice of
liability was issued pursuant to subdivision (g) of this  section  shall
not be liable for the violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g)
of  section  eleven  hundred  eighty  of  this  article pursuant to this
section, provided that:
(i) prior to the violation, the lessor has  filed  with  such  parking
violations  bureau  in  accordance  with  the  provisions of section two
hundred thirty-nine of this chapter; and
(ii) within thirty-seven days after receiving notice from such  bureau
of the date and time of a liability, together with the other information
contained  in  the  original  notice of liability, the lessor submits to
such bureau the correct name and address of the lessee  of  the  vehicle
identified  in  the  notice  of liability at the time of such violation,
together with such other additional information contained in the rental,
lease or other contract document, as may be reasonably required by  such
bureau pursuant to regulations that may be promulgated for such purpose.
2.  Failure  to comply with subparagraph (ii) of paragraph one of this
subdivision shall render the owner liable for the penalty prescribed  in
this section.
3.  Where  the lessor complies with the provisions of paragraph one of
this subdivision, the lessee  of  such  vehicle  on  the  date  of  such
violation  shall  be deemed to be the owner of such vehicle for purposes
of this section, shall  be  subject  to  liability  for  such  violation
pursuant  to  this  section  and  shall  be  sent  a notice of liability
pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section.
(l) 1. If the owner liable for a violation of subdivision (c)  or  (d)
of  section  eleven  hundred  eighty  of  this  article pursuant to this
section was not  the  operator  of  the  vehicle  at  the  time  of  the
violation,  the owner may maintain an action for indemnification against
the operator.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no owner of  a
vehicle  shall  be  subject  to a monetary fine imposed pursuant to this
section if the operator of  such  vehicle  was  operating  such  vehicle
without the consent of the owner at the time such operator operated such
vehicle in violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section
eleven  hundred eighty of this article. For purposes of this subdivision
there shall be a presumption that  the  operator  of  such  vehicle  was
operating  such  vehicle  with the consent of the owner at the time such
operator operated such vehicle in violation  of  subdivision  (b),  (c),
(d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this article.
(m)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the liability
of an operator of a vehicle for any violation of subdivision (c) or  (d)
of section eleven hundred eighty of this article.
(n) If the city adopts a demonstration program pursuant to subdivision
(a) of this section it shall conduct a study and submit an annual report
on  the  results  of  the  use  of  photo  devices  to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on  or
before  the first day of June next succeeding the effective date of this
section and on the same date  in  each  succeeding  year  in  which  the
demonstration program is operable. Such report shall include:
1. the locations where and dates when photo speed violation monitoring
systems were used;
2.  the  aggregate  number,  type and severity of crashes, fatalities,
injuries and property damage reported  within  all  school  speed  zones
within  the  city,  to  the  extent the information is maintained by the
department of motor vehicles of this state;
3. the aggregate number, type and  severity  of  crashes,  fatalities,
injuries  and  property  damage reported within school speed zones where
photo speed violation monitoring systems were used, to  the  extent  the
information  is  maintained  by the department of motor vehicles of this
state;
4.  the  number  of  violations recorded within all school speed zones
within the city, in the aggregate on a daily, weekly and monthly basis;
5. the number of violations recorded within  each  school  speed  zone
where  a  photo  speed  violation  monitoring  system  is  used,  in the
aggregate on a daily, weekly and monthly basis;
6. the number of violations recorded within  all  school  speed  zones
within the city that were:
(i)  more  than  ten  but not more than twenty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit;
(ii) more than twenty but not more than thirty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit;
(iii) more than thirty but not more than forty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit; and
(iv) more than forty miles per hour over the posted speed limit;
7. the number of violations recorded within  each  school  speed  zone
where a photo speed violation monitoring system is used that were:
(i)  more  than  ten  but not more than twenty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit;
(ii) more than twenty but not more than thirty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit;
(iii) more than thirty but not more than forty miles per hour over the
posted speed limit; and
(iv) more than forty miles per hour over the posted speed limit;
8. the total number of notices  of  liability  issued  for  violations
recorded by such systems;
9.  the number of fines and total amount of fines paid after the first
notice of liability issued for violations recorded by such systems;
10. the number of violations  adjudicated  and  the  results  of  such
adjudications  including  breakdowns of dispositions made for violations
recorded by such systems;
11. the total amount of revenue realized by  the  city  in  connection
with the program;
12.  the expenses incurred by the city in connection with the program;
and
13. the quality of the adjudication process and its results.
(o) It shall be a defense  to  any  prosecution  for  a  violation  of
subdivision  (b),  (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty
of this article pursuant to this section that such photo speed violation
monitoring  system  was  malfunctioning  at  the  time  of  the  alleged
violation.
* NB There are 2 § 1180-f's
* NB Repealed December 31, 2028