BILL NUMBER: S3957
SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to registration
fees for certain vehicles; and to repeal certain provisions of such law
relating thereto
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To incrementally increase registration and reregistration fees for
certain vehicles.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 401 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law by:
- Ending the current fee schedule for the registration and reregistra-
tion of vehicles set by this paragraph on January 1, 2026;
- Authorizing the Commissioner to gradually increase registration and
reregistration fees until 2030, when they must meet the fee schedules
established in newly added paragraph, a-ii; -Subtracting 1,000 pounds
from the weight of electric vehicles that weigh 5,000 pounds or less for
the purposes of calculating registration fees at a rate of 10 cents per
pound.
Section 2 repeals subdivision 21 of section 401 of the Vehicle and Traf-
fic Law and replaces it with a new subdivision 21 that deposits regis-
tration and reregistration fees in the Highway and Bridge Trust fund and
Mass Transportation Trust Fund until each fund's annual financial plan
is met. This section would then require that 75 percent of remaining
funds be used for street safety projects and 25 percent of remaining
funds be used for state and local roadway projects. This section main-
tains the provision of the current subdivision 21 of section 401 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law requiring that the comptroller retains funds
necessary for reimbursements and refunds.
Section 3 requires the Commissioner to issue a report annually that
lists, by county, the street safety projects and roadway improvement
projects funded through the new subdivision 21 of section 401 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law, as established in section two of this bill.
This section also requires the report include county-level vehicle
weight data, the number of vehicles receiving a fee reduction for
producing zero emissions, and the number of vehicles involved in crashes
with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles resulting in serious
injuries or fatalities.
Section 4 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2024, pedestrian deaths in NYC rose by 18 percent compared to 2023.
The reasons for this are multi-faceted but vehicle weight plays a key
role. Individuals hit by vehicles weighing more than 4,000 pounds are
between two to three times more likely to die than those hit by smaller
cars. A study found that in the average U.S. metro area, there is a 2.4
percent increase in pedestrian deaths for every 100 kilogram increase in
vehicle weight.
As the street safety crisis continues to escalate, vehicles are only
getting heavier. Since 2000, average vehicle weight has increased nearly
11 percent, and since 1980, vehicle weight has increased by roughly
1,000 pounds. Light trucks (pickups, SUVs, minivans) now make up more
than 75 percent of cars sold. While vehicle weight has increased, hood
height has also increased 11 percent since 2000. Some vehicles have a
hood height that is taller than most elementary school students, meaning
they may not be able to see these children stepping out into a crosswalk
before it is too late. These vehicles must also have wider pillars for
their roofs to support increased vehicle weight, impacting drivers'
peripheral vision.
Oversized vehicles have additional consequences. For every 1,000 pound
increase in vehicle weight, there is a 47 percent increase in the like-
lihood of fatalities for the occupants of the other impacted vehicle.
These vehicles pollute more than smaller vehicles and cause more wear
and tear on their tires and brakes and on our roads, releasing toxic
pollutants and requiring more road maintenance. A study found that the
total external cost of vehicle weight from fatalities alone is $93
billion. This bill seeks to internalize some of these costs to communi-
ties across New York State, safeguarding pedestrians, cyclists, and
drivers alike and protecting our roads and environment.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S6657 - Referred to Transportation
2023: S6657 - Referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S3957: 401 vehicle and traffic law, 401(6) vehicle and traffic law, 401(21) vehicle and traffic law