A10686 Summary:

BILL NOA10686
 
SAME ASSAME AS S09564
 
SPONSORRules (Dinowitz)
 
COSPNSRGalef, Gottfried, Zinerman, Cymbrowitz, Epstein, Dickens, Gibbs
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §516-c, V & T L
 
Authorizes the imposition of a fifty dollar fee on vehicles entering NYC which are registered in states which do not cooperate with New York in the enforcement of traffic infractions through the use of photo-monitoring devices or signal monitoring systems.
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A10686 Actions:

BILL NOA10686
 
09/09/2022referred to transportation
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A10686 Committee Votes:

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A10686 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A10686
 
SPONSOR: Rules (Dinowitz)
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to fees charged to certain motorists   PURPOSE: To assign a fee to drivers with vehicles with license plates from states which have enacted legislation that allow the drivers of those vehicles the ability to skirt New York traffic laws which utilize technology that prevents accidents and saves lives.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section one of the bill adds § 516-c to the vehicle and traffic law authorizing the New York City Department of Transportation ("Department) to impose a fifty dollar fee on vehicles entering the City of New York which displays a license plate from a state which does not provide information related to drivers licensed from that state for the purpose of permitting the imposition of fines or penalties for traffic infrac- tions, including liability imposed through the use of a traffic control signal monitoring system, speed control devices, or other photo-monitor- ing systems to enforce certain traffic infractions.This section also authorizes the Department to construct, operate, and maintain facilities and equipment identifying those vehicles to collect the fee. This section further states that the fee may be paid by the operator of the vehicle in cash, or through the use.of the credit or debit card and obligates the operator of the vehicle, if they are unable to pay the fee at that time, to provide their name, address, and telephone number and the vehicles license plate number so the Department may bill the opera- tor of the vehicle for the fee. The Commissioner of the Department is further required, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Finance and any other city agency, to enter into an agreement with a financing agen- cy or card issuer to provide for the acceptance by the City of New York of credit cards as an alternate means of payment of the fee. Finally, this section also requires that the revenues collected be deposited in the general fund of the City of New York and that the Commissioner of the Department promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this section. Section two of the bill provides the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: In 1988, New York State enacted legislation which granted New York City (the City) the ability to launch the nation's first Red Light Camera program in 1994. The program has been effective at deterring drivers from disobeying red lights, with the average daily number of red-light violations issued at each camera location declining by over 84%. To address the pervasive problem of speeding motorist in New York City, in 2013 the City received authorization to use a limited number of speed safety cameras in school zones during certain hours of the day. Follow- ing a 60% drop in speeding infractions in locations where speed safety cameras had been installed, the program was renewed, and the number of school speed zones cameras was increased. However, safety concerns still existed as 33% of serious deaths and injuries had occurred at times when the speed cameras were not permitted to operate. As a result, the program was subsequently expanded to allow speed cameras to operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Unfortunately, although red-light and speed safety cameras have proven to be successful at discouraging negligent behavior, there are lawmakers in certain states who are more interested in protecting the ability of their drivers to drive recklessly in the City rather than have them face the consequences of breaking the City's traffic laws, specifically those captured by a red-light and speed cameras. When New York State join the Driver License Compact in 1965) and successor compacts thereafter), it joined other states in promoting compliance with the laws relating to the operation of motor vehicles. One way this is achieved is in situ- ations when an individual who is convicted of certain traffic offenses is licensed to drive by another state. These compacts allow the state where the individual has been convicted to share with the state where they obtained their drives license that the person has been convicted of the traffic offense, thereby allowing the state which provided them their driver's license to treat the conviction in the same manner as if the conviction had occurred in the home state for the purpose of admin- istrative action, such as driver's license suspension. There are currently states which are seeking to enact legislation which would prohibits their Department of Motor Vehicle or equivalent and their other state entities from disclosing the personal information of their drivers to another state for the purpose of allowing the other state to impose or collect a fine resulting from an alleged violation committed in that state that is captured by a red-light or speed camera. Although New York State cannot compel other states to adhere to the goals of the compacts, New York State can take pre-emptive action should another state adopt such an irresponsible policy into law.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.   EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
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