BILL NUMBER: S7349
SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to complete a vision
test
 
PURPOSE:
To require applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to submit
proof of acceptable vision to operate a motor vehicle.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the
vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 3 of part K of chapter 59
of the laws of 2009.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would codify New York State Department of Motor Vehicles poli-
cy to require people applying to renew their driver's license to certify
that they have adequate vision that would allow them to properly operate
a motor vehicle.
New York State has over 11 million licensed drivers on the road. If two
percent of those drivers failed an eye exam, that would translate into
hundreds of thousands of seeing impaired drivers on our roads statewide.
This bill will ensure an atmosphere that is safe for our motorists. It
is a common sense measure that will work to achieve those ends. Such
proof of acceptable vision shall require the applicant either to take a
vision test administered a physician, physician a DMV office or submit a
certification signed by assistant, nurse practitioner, optometrist or
optician has adequate vision to operate a motor vehicle attesting that
the applicant has adequate vision to operate a motor vehicle.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.3086 - Referred to Transportation/A.3707- Referred to Transpor-
tation
2023: S.3086 - Referred to Transportation/A.3707- Referred to Transpor-
tation
2022: S.4568 - Referred to Transportation/A.6557- Referred to Transpor-
tation
2021: S.4568 - Referred to Transportation/A.6557 - Referred to Transpor-
tation
2020: S.391 - Referred to Transportation
2019: S.391 - Referred to Transportation
2018: S.3542 - 3rd Reading Calendar/A.6544 - Referred to Transportation
2017: S.3542 - Passed Senate/A.6544- Referred to Transportation
2016: S.2851 - Passed Senate
2015: S.2851 - Passed Senate
2014: S.4140 - Passed Senate/A.6172- Referred to Transportation
2012: S.5904 - Referred to Transportation/A.8803 - Referred to Transpor-
tation
2011: S.5904 - Referred to Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.