Authorizes the use of vehicle-mounted variable message signs on emergency road service vehicles, tow trucks and highway assistance vehicles when such vehicles are responding to roadside emergencies or disabled vehicles, only for safety-related communications.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10261
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the use of
vehicle-mounted variable message signs by emergency roadside service
vehicles, tow trucks and highway assistance vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1229-e to read as follows:
3 § 1229-e. Vehicle-mounted variable message signs on emergency road
4 service vehicles, tow trucks and highway assistance vehicles. Vehicle-
5 mounted variable message signs are authorized to be used on emergency
6 roadside service vehicles, tow trucks and highway assistance vehicles
7 when such emergency roadside service vehicles, tow trucks and highway
8 assistance vehicles are responding to roadside emergencies or disabled
9 vehicles, subject to the following provisions:
10 1. A vehicle-mounted variable message sign shall only be used on an
11 emergency roadside service vehicle, tow truck or highway assistance
12 vehicle when such emergency roadside service vehicle, tow truck or high-
13 way assistance vehicle is lawfully stopped on the shoulder or at the
14 roadside;
15 2. A vehicle-mounted variable message sign shall only be used on an
16 emergency roadside service vehicle, tow truck or highway assistance
17 vehicle for safety-related communications, including "slow down/move
18 over" and directional arrows consistent with nationally recognized traf-
19 fic safety standards; and
20 3. No vehicle-mounted variable message sign shall be used on an emer-
21 gency roadside service vehicle, tow truck or highway assistance vehicle
22 for advertising or general traffic control purposes.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14830-01-6
