A series of bills sponsored by Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) is targeted at assisting motorists.

One, A09307, would require that all cars, new and used, sold at motor vehicle dealerships in New York State be equipped with a spare space saver tire appropriate to the vehicle, to enable a driver to change his or her own tire, should the need arise, rather than being forced to call a tow truck or a mechanic.

A second, A9296, is aimed at reducing the theft of catalytic converters, which are prime targets for thieves and costly to replace, by requiring that all catalytic converters installed in cars sold commercially in New York State be indelibly marked or engraved with the vehicle’s VIN number. The bill also would require junk dealers receiving catalytic converters without VIN numbers to keep detailed records of the purchase to enable after-the-fact tracing, if necessary.

A third, A06988, seeks to reduce insurance costs for motorists who install dashboard cameras, noting that the existence of dashboard cameras can create cost savings for insurance companies, which get a visual recording of collisions that can help them settle claims more efficiently.

“Motorists in New York State already face high costs,” noted Assemblyman Colton. “Insurance is pricy; many locations do not have free on-street parking and may even have limited metered parking availability, forcing drivers to spend money to park in a garage; and gas is costly, and going up in price. These common-sense pieces of legislation are aimed at helping drivers in various ways, and all, if enacted, can save them money at a time when costs for everything are going up.”