STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7138
IN SENATE
May 1, 2012
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Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requirements
for licensing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law
2 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c-3) to read as follows:
3 (c-3) "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component. The commissioner shall
4 provide in the pre-licensing course, set forth in paragraph (b) of this
5 subdivision, a mandatory component in "Motorcycle Safety" awareness
6 education as a prerequisite for obtaining a license to operate a motor
7 vehicle. The purpose of the component is to educate prospective licen-
8 sees on the potential dangers to persons operating motorcycles on the
9 roadway.
10 § 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502
11 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 458 of the laws of
12 2011, is amended to read as follows:
13 (i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the
14 applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence
15 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the
16 laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat-
17 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", [or] "Work Zone
18 Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the
19 commissioner, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding
20 with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or
21 hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this
22 chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols
23 and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satis-
24 factorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less
25 than four hours and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom
26 driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent there-
27 of. Such test shall include at least seven written questions concerning
28 the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15218-02-2
S. 7138 2
1 person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial conse-
2 quences resulting from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two
3 of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while
4 under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or
5 more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage"
6 on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and
7 financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or inter-
8 fering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the road-
9 way. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the poten-
10 tial dangers to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe
11 operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test shall include one
12 or more questions concerning the potential dangers to persons operating
13 motorcycles on the road. Such test may include one or more questions
14 concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with a
15 parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehi-
16 cle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter.
17 Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner
18 shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test for color
19 blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application may be
20 accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
