BILL NUMBER: S4804
SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
first responder safety zones and speed limits in such safety zones
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to establish first responder safety zones in
order to improve the safety of first responders entering the roadway in
or near an emergency response station.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would establish first responder safety zones.
Section 2 of this bill would require that operators of motor vehicles
yield the right of way to emergency vehicles traveling within or enter-
ing a first responder safety zone.
Section 3 of this bill would require that vehicles yield to pedestrians
in first responder safety zones.
Section 4 of this bill would require that first responder safety zones
have a speed limit of fifteen miles per hour.
Section 5 of this bill would establish signage and markings for first
responder safety zones.
Section 6 of this bill would establish a time period for repeat
violations that could result in the suspension of license or registra-
tion.
Section 7 of this bill would require that the speed limit in first
responder safety zones may not be raised on State highways and highways
on Indian reservations.
Section 8 of this bill would require that the speed limit in first
responder safety zones may not be raised on county roads and town high-
ways.
Section 9 of this bill would require that the speed limit in first
responder safety zones may not be raised on highways under the jurisdic-
tion of certain public authorities and commissions.
Section 10 of this bill would require that the speed limit in first
responder safety zones may not be raised on highways in cities and
villages.
Section 11 of this bill would require that the speed limit in first
responder safety zones may not be raised on highways in certain towns.
Section 12 of this bill would establish a severability clause.
Section 13 this bill provides that the effective date shall take effect
on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, and
shall apply to violations committed on and after such date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many volunteer fire departments and ambulance companies are not staffed
around the clock. Instead, members respond to emergencies at the time of
an incident. When a traffic control system is not installed at the
station, responding volunteers and emergency apparatus may have diffi-
culty getting in and out of the station. Additionally, some stations
feature parking lots for members that are located across the street from
the response station, meaning that first responders are required to
cross roadways in order to reach emergency vehicles. Motor vehicle oper-
ators passing such locations do not always yield the right of way to
responders, putting the latter in danger as well as delaying emergency
response time. In some cases, first responders have been injured cross-
ing roadways to gain entry to their station. This bill would protect
first responders in the area around a response station and to ensure
that emergency vehicles can quickly and safely move out of the station
and onto the roadway.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S.1391-A (Brooks) - Passed Senate.
2020-21: S.1761-A (Brooks) - Passed Senate.
2017-18: S.6105 (Brooks) - Referred to Transportation.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law, and shall apply to violations committed on and
after such date.

Statutes affected:
S4804: 1144-a vehicle and traffic law, 510 vehicle and traffic law, 510(2) vehicle and traffic law, 1620 vehicle and traffic law, 1622 vehicle and traffic law, 1622(1) vehicle and traffic law, 1630 vehicle and traffic law, 1630(5) vehicle and traffic law, 1643 vehicle and traffic law, 1662-a vehicle and traffic law