BILL NUMBER: S9499
SPONSOR: COONEY
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the deacti-
vation of transportation network company drivers and to additional safe-
ty requirements for vehicles engaged in the transportation of passen-
gers; and to amend the penal law, in relation to the impersonation of a
transportation network company driver; and providing for the repeal of
certain provisions upon the expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Adds additional safety items for vehicles and drivers engaged in the
transportation of passengers.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill sets conditions by which a TNC company must deac-
tivate a driver, using a universal database of drivers
Section 2 provides that any ride set on a digital network or application
on a hand held device include a system of electronic match verification
when the correct car arrives
Section 3 adds a new crime of criminal impersonation of a transportation
network company driver
Section 4 contains the severability clause
Section 5 contains the effective.
JUSTIFICATION:
There are many in which passengers have entered the wrong for-hire-
Vehicle, leading to various safety concerns. On some occasions, a driver
with bad intent has posed as a for-hire vehicle driver, leading to
assault or even murder.
On March 29, 2019, Samantha L. Josephson, a 21 year old college student
in Columbia, South Carolina called for a for-hire vehicle. It was late
at night, and she mistakenly climbed into the wrong vehicle. Her body
was found 14 hours later, 90 miles away.
This bill requires that any for-hire vehicle service that utilizes an
app to implement a safety button which would electronically verify the
passenger with the driver, adding an extra layer of security for the
passenger to verify they are entering the correct vehicle. This bill
also punishes individuals who knowingly pose as a TNC driver, when in
fact they are not.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S.9435 Referred to Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that sections
one and two of this act shall take effect one year after it shall have
become a law. SPONSOR: COONEY
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring a
school bus attendant or school bus monitor on all school buses
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that school children are safely escorted on and off of their
school buses by an adult school bus attendant or monitor. Such attend-
ants or monitors will accompany these students on and off of the school
bus to ensure that students are visible as they cross the road, are a
safe distance from the bus or any other motor vehicles, and make it
safely out of the road.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This legislation will require a school bus driver assistant to be on all
school buses operating in New York State, while transporting students in
grades K-6, in order to ensure that school children safely reach their
destination. As the bus comes to the stop the school bus driver assist-
ant or monitor will exit the bus with the child or children and help
them safely cross the street. Such assistant will then re-board the bus
and follow the same routine at each stop along the route.
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NH
TSA), the greatest risk for children who ride a school bus to and from
school is when they approach the bus and when they exit the bus.The
NHTSA also notes that while every state in America has a law making it
illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flash-
ing and stop-arm extended to load or unload students, many motorists
simply choose to ignore the law.
It is estimated that in New York State, 50, 000 motor vehicles illegally
pass school buses every day. While education and enforcements efforts
can help curb these behaviors, this staggering figure clearly under-
scores the need for additional actions to ensure that our school chil-
dren make it to school and back home safely. Recently, a more disturbing
trend has emerged whereby motorists have been passing stopped buses on
the shoulder of the road where children enter and exit the bus.
This legislation will help prevent further injuries and fatalities from
occurring by ensuring that a responsible adult is helping these students
on an off the bus and is looking out for dangerous drivers who choose to
disregard the law by passing a stopped school bus. School bus attendants
or monitors will also be able to ensure the safety of all students who
ride the bus by monitoring students and making sure they are behaving
and abiding by the rules. Having an attendant on board every school bus
that is transporting children will ensure the safety and the well being
of our children.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2024
Statutes affected: S9499: 1699 vehicle and traffic law