Provides that a person is guilty of loitering when such person remains in a transportation facility, within twenty-five feet of the token booth or similar location, for more than twenty-five minutes unless authorized to do so or unless the facility's design would make it impossible to maintain a greater distance.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7677
SPONSOR: Cook (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to loitering
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
A new subdivision 8 is added to Section 240.35 of the penal law to read
as follows: 8. LOITERS OR REMAINS IN ANY TRANSPORTATION FACILITY, WITHIN
TWENTY-FIVE FEET OF THE TOKEN BOOTH OR SIMILAR LOCATION, FOR MORE THAN
TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED TO DO SO, UNLESS
BECAUSE OF THE FACILITY'S SIZE OR DESIGN IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAIN-
TAIN SUCH DISTANCE.
JUSTIFICATION:
Token booth operators have become the most recent victims of premedi-
tated violent crimes. Perpetrators loiter in the vicinity of the token
booth, waiting for an opportune time to rob attendants under threat of
physical harm. To date, two deaths have occurred among toll booth opera-
tors as a result of such robberies. By restricting the time for which
individuals can loiter in the immediate vicinity of a toll booth, law
enforcement officers can remove violators, thereby reducing the risk to
attendants.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Previously Introduced; A.6766 - 2017/18 A.4400 - 2019/20;
A.4404-2021/22; A.6563 2023/24
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Ninetieth day next succeeding the date on which it shall have become
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7677
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, WEPRIN, COLTON, WILLIAMS, BICHOTTE HERMELYN
-- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DAVILA -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to loitering
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 240.35 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
3 7. Loiters or remains in any transportation facility, within twenty-
4 five feet of the token booth or similar location, for more than twenty-
5 five minutes, unless specifically authorized to do so, unless because of
6 the facility's size or design it would be impossible to maintain such
7 distance.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day next succeeding
9 the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08957-01-5
