BILL NUMBER: S4919
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to limiting the
liability of midwives for monetary penalties for certain traffic
violations committed while responding to a patient
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To protect midwives who are responding to a live birth from receiving
monetary penalties for certain traffic infractions that occur during
emergencies.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill amends section 240 of the vehicle and traffic
law by adding a new subdivision (1-c) that provides a rebuttable
presumption that a licensed midwife, driving to the location of a live
birth, and is exceeding the speed limit, running a red light, or driving
in a bus lane, shall not be liable for monetary penalties if they
provide evidence that at the time of the infraction, the vehicle was on
its way to assist in the duties of a midwife.
Section two of this bill sets forth the effective date. JUSTIFICATION:
When midwives respond to a call regarding a live birth, time is of the
essence. This bill would ensure that in the event a midwife is driving
to a live birth, any violation of traffic laws that receives a monetary
penalty would have a rebuttable presumption as this would constitute an
emergency. This bill mirrors A.8933 (2022).
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024; Amended and Held in Transportation Senate Committee.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S4919: 240 vehicle and traffic law