BILL NUMBER: S1284
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the insurance law, in
relation to instruction concerning traffic stops
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require driver's education and defensive driving
instructors to educate on proper behavior when stopped by a law enforce-
ment officer as a part of driving instruction courses.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of
2 section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97
of 3 the laws of 2016, to include that one or more questions on the
responsibilities of a driver when stopped by a law enforcement officer
shall be included on the test driver's license applicants must take.
Section two adds a traffic stop instruction component to the list of
required instructional resources provided to driver's education
students.
Section three states that it is the responsibility of the commissioner
to establish a curriculum that includes instruction on proper behavior
when stopped by a law enforcement officer as part of driver's education.
Section five requires instruction on proper behavior when stopped by a
law enforcement officer to be included as part of the national safety
council's defensive driving course.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Given the unfortunate potential for routine police interactions to turn
deadly, often over a misunderstanding, this legislation aims to mitigate
any danger involved in traffic stops. Given the nature of their profes-
sion, law enforcement officers are often on the alert and wary of poten-
tial threats. By educating prospective drivers on proper behavior when
stopped, the chance of them unintentionally alarming officers and subse-
quently being harmed decreases greatly. Additionally, if more drivers
were versed in traffic stop behavior, it would make traffic stops safe
and efficient, which then allows law enforcement to be more available
for other ssues and emergencies.
Prospective drivers must be fully educated on all aspects of driving
safety before they are on the road. Including instruction on proper
behavior when stopped by law enforcement in defensive driving courses
would help to provide vital information to licensed drivers who would
not otherwise have access to it. This bill mandates the creation of a
curriculum by the commissioner and would authorize the commissioner to
reach out to the division of state police, civil liberties organiza-
tions, and any other organization that might assist in suggestions for
curriculum content.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S2426 passed Senate
2021-2022: S62 passed Senate
2019-2020: S1082A passed Senate
2017-2018: S5379-A referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1284: 502 vehicle and traffic law, 502(4) vehicle and traffic law, 2336 insurance law, 2336(a) insurance law