A07331 Summary:

BILL NO    A07331 

SAME AS    Same as S 3747

SPONSOR    Hoyt (MS)

COSPNSR    Peoples-Stokes, Schroeder

MLTSPNSR   

Amd V & T L, generally, amd S87, Pub Off L

Authorizes the city of Buffalo to establish by local law a demonstration
program imposing monetary liability on vehicle owners to fail to comply with
traffic control indicators.

A07331 Actions:

BILL NO    A07331 

03/30/2009 referred to transportation
04/06/2009 reported referred to codes
04/06/2009 reported referred to ways and means
04/06/2009 reported referred to rules
04/06/2009 reported 
04/06/2009 rules report cal.25
04/06/2009 ordered to third reading rules cal.25
04/06/2009 home rule request
04/06/2009 passed assembly
04/06/2009 delivered to senate
04/06/2009 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
04/07/2009 SUBSTITUTED FOR S3747
04/07/2009 3RD READING CAL.150
04/07/2009 HOME RULE REQUEST
04/07/2009 PASSED SENATE
04/07/2009 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
04/16/2009 delivered to governor
04/28/2009 signed chap.21

A07331 Votes:

BILL: A07331  DATE: 04/06/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 097/037

Abbate  Y  Cahill  NO Englebr Y  Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  NO Skartad Y
Alessi  Y  Calhoun Y  Errigo  Y  Hoyt    Y  Markey  Y  Pretlow Y  Spano   Y
Alfano  Y  Camara  ER Espaill Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso Y  Quinn   NO Stirpe  Y
Amedore Y  Canestr Y  Farrell Y  Jacobs  ER McDonou Y  Rabbitt NO Sweeney Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz ER Fields  Y  Jaffee  NO McEneny NO Raia    NO Tedisco ER
Aubry   ER Castro  Y  Finch   NO Jeffrie Y  McKevit Y  Ramos   Y  Thiele  Y
Bacalle Y  Christe Y  Fitzpat NO John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich NO Titone  ER
Ball    NO Clark   Y  Gabrysz Y  Jordan  NO Miller  NO Reilly  Y  Titus   Y
Barclay NO Colton  Y  Galef   Y  Kavanag Y  Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco Y
Barra   Y  Conte   Y  Gantt   Y  Kellner ER Molinar NO Rive N  ER Towns   ER
Barron  NO Cook    Y  Gianari Y  Kolb    Y  Morelle Y  Rive PM NO Townsen NO
Benedet ER Corwin  NO Giglio  NO Koon    NO Nolan   ER Robinso ER Walker  Y
Benjami Y  Crouch  NO Glick   NO Lancman Y  Oaks    NO Rosenth Y  Weinste NO
Bing    Y  Cusick  Y  Gordon  Y  Latimer Y  O'Donne Y  Russell ER Weisenb Y
Boyland Y  Cymbrow Y  Gottfri Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  NO Saladin Y  Weprin  Y
Boyle   Y  DelMont Y  Greene  Y  Lentol  Y  Ortiz   NO Sayward Y  Wright  Y
Bradley Y  DenDekk Y  Gunther Y  Lifton  Y  Parment Y  Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Brennan Y  Destito Y  Hawley  NO Lope PD NO Paulin  Y  Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Brodsky NO Diaz    ER Hayes   NO Lope VJ ER Peoples Y  Schimmi Y
Brook-K Y  Dinowit Y  Heastie NO Lupardo Y  Peralta NO Schroed Y
Burling NO Duprey  Y  Hevesi  NO Magee   Y  Perry   Y  Scozzaf NO
Butler  NO Eddingt Y  Hikind  Y  Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer ER

A07331 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A7331

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the
public officers law, in relation to owner liability for failure of
operator to comply with traffic control indications; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To authorize the City of Buffalo to implement a pilot program using
photo-monitoring devices and imposing monetary liability on vehicle
owners for traffic signal violations in order to improve traffic
safety.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Sections 1 through 13 amend various provisions of Article 2- B of the
vehicle and traffic law (V&TL) to incorporate references to a new V&TL
section 1111-b and sections 14 and 15 amend V&TL section 401 (5-a)(a)
relating to the denial of motor vehicle registration issuances and
renewals to include a new V&TL section 1111-b;

Section 16 amends the V&TL by adding a new section 1111-b to authorize
the City of Buffalo to enact a local law or ordinance establishing a
demonstration program for imposing liability on vehicle owners for
operators' failure to comply with traffic control signals, as
evidenced by traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring
devices. Up to fifty intersections could be equipped with such devices
at anyone time. The new section 1111-b also includes provisions
relating to the evidence of violations, its availability to
defendants, the information required to be contained in notices of
liability (NOLs) and how they must be sent to owners, and the
adjudication process. The demonstration program would have to utilize
technologies to prevent the identification of motorists, vehicle
occupants and contents in the recorded images.

Additionally, the new section 1111-b establishes maximum penalties for
violations that could be established in the local law, and provides
for the denial of a motor vehicle registration application if an
individual has failed to appear or comply with final decisions for
three or more NOLs and/or parking violations within 18 months. It
prohibits the imposition of driver's license points for violations, as
well as prohibits the use of violations for insurance purposes.  Valid
defenses to alleged violations would be provided, in the event the
owner had proof that the vehicle was stolen and he/she had not
recovered it prior to the time of the violation, or in the event that
the traffic light was malfunctioning at the time of the violation.
The City would be directed to issue an annual program report.

Sections 17 and 18 amend subdivision 1 of section 1809 of the V&TL, to
exempt section 1111-b from its provisions, section 19 amends
subdivision 1 of section l809-e of V&TL, to exempt section 1111-b from
its provisions.

Section 20 amends the public officers law to exempt photographs or
other recorded images prepared under section 1111-b, and section 21
amends the unconsolidated law whereby demonstration program equipment


is subject to the provisions of section 103 of the general municipal
law.

Section 22 provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Each year in New York State, hundreds of people are killed and tens of
thousands are injured by motor vehicle accidents at intersections
which are controlled by traffic lights. Drivers, passengers and
pedestrians are victims of the increasing practice of motorists
running red lights.

A demonstration program in New York City to equip traffic signals with
cameras triggered by a road bed sensor when violations occur has
proven to decrease the incidence of running red lights. This
legislation would enable the City of Buffalo to implement the same
technology that would prevent further needless deaths.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Similar legislation:
2007-08: A.6669 - referred to transportation
2005-06: A.5651 - referred to transportation
2003-04: A.766-B - referred to transportation
2001-02: A.5210 - referred to transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

30th day after it shall have become a law, to expire and be deemed
repealed on December 1, 2014.