Bill Text: NY A01942 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits the disclosure of highway, bridge, tunnel and other thoroughfare toll records, and commuter railroad and transit records to protect privacy, unless necessary to perform law enforcement functions of certain public officials and bodies or to further another public entities official functions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-07 - REFERRED TO CODES [A01942 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A01942-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1942
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 12, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BING, JAFFEE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
GABRYSZAK, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Govern-
mental Operations
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to privacy of elec-
tronic fare and toll records
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Statement of legislative intent. The legislature finds and
2 declares that public entities increasingly are establishing electronic
3 toll and electronic fare payment systems, which have the potential for
4 great convenience to the general public. E-Z Pass, for example, allows
5 motorists to have toll charges automatically deducted from pre-establ-
6 ished accounts. Programs such as these have proven popular with consum-
7 ers. But some consumers, public officials and public entities have
8 raised legitimate questions about the extent to which records of indi-
9 vidual travel created by such electronic toll and fare programs should
10 be disclosed, and under what circumstances. This bill establishes
11 reasonable, uniform provisions for maintaining the confidentiality of
12 such records, while at the same time authorizing disclosure in cases of
13 legitimate law enforcement need.
14 S 2. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 50-f to
15 read as follows:
16 S 50-F. PRIVACY OF ELECTRONIC TOLL AND FARE RECORDS. 1. DEFINITIONS.
17 AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
18 A. "ELECTRONIC TOLL INFORMATION" SHALL MEAN RECORDS CREATED OR MAIN-
19 TAINED BY A PUBLIC ENTITY OR BY A CONTRACTOR ON BEHALF OF A PUBLIC ENTI-
20 TY CONCERNING A MOTORIST OR MOTOR VEHICLE REGARDING THE USE OF ANY HIGH-
21 WAY, BRIDGE, TUNNEL OR OTHER THOROUGHFARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
22 E-Z PASS RECORDS, WHICH CONTAIN INFORMATION SUCH AS (BUT NOT LIMITED TO)
23 THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE REGISTERED VEHICLE OWNER OR ACCOUNT HOLDER,
24 A DESCRIPTION AND/OR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE, THE DATE, TIME
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04435-01-1
A. 1942 2
1 AND LOCATION OF THE PASSAGE OF A VEHICLE THROUGH A TOLL COLLECTION
2 LOCATION, AND THE STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT ADDITIONS AND/OR DEDUCTIONS
3 PREPARED FOR OR SENT TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER.
4 B. "ELECTRONIC FARE INFORMATION" SHALL MEAN RECORDS CREATED OR MAIN-
5 TAINED BY A PUBLIC ENTITY OR BY A CONTRACTOR ON BEHALF OF A PUBLIC ENTI-
6 TY CONCERNING AN ACCOUNT HOLDER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "METRO-
7 CARD" AND PASS CARD SYSTEM COMPUTER RECORDS CONCERNING COMMUTER RAILROAD
8 AND/OR TRANSIT FACILITY USE, WHICH CONTAIN INFORMATION SUCH AS (BUT NOT
9 LIMITED TO) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ACCOUNT HOLDER; THE DATE AND
10 TIME OF FARE CARD OR FARE MEDIA USE; IDENTIFICATION OF THE LOCATION OR
11 TRANSIT STATION WHERE SUCH FARE CARD OR FARE MEDIA WAS USED; AND THE
12 STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT ADDITIONS AND/OR DEDUCTIONS PREPARED FOR OR SENT
13 TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER.
14 C. "PUBLIC ENTITY" SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE ANY STATE OR LOCAL DEPART-
15 MENT, AGENCY, BOARD, BUREAU, DIVISION, COMMISSION, PUBLIC AUTHORITY,
16 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION OR OFFICE OF THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDI-
17 VISION OF THE STATE, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY PERFORMING A GOVERNMENTAL OR
18 PROPRIETARY FUNCTION FOR THE STATE OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
19 D. "CONTRACTOR" SHALL MEAN ANY ENTITY ENGAGED IN PERFORMING CUSTOMER
20 SERVICE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING VIOLATIONS PROCESSING, UNDER CONTRACT WITH
21 A PUBLIC ENTITY.
22 2. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. ELECTRONIC TOLL INFORMATION AND ELEC-
23 TRONIC FARE INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE
24 PROVISIONS OF ANY OTHER LAW, SUCH INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE OPEN TO THE
25 PUBLIC, NOR SUBJECT TO CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCESS OR DISCOVERY, NOR
26 SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW, NOR USED BY
27 ANY COURT OR ADMINISTRATIVE OR ADJUDICATORY BODY IN ANY ACTION OR
28 PROCEEDING THEREIN, AND NO PUBLIC ENTITY OR EMPLOYEE, OFFICER OR AGENT
29 THEREOF SHALL DISCLOSE SUCH INFORMATION, EXCEPT THAT SUCH INFORMATION:
30 A. SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND COPYING AND USE BY THE
31 ACCOUNT HOLDER FOR SO LONG AS SUCH INFORMATION IS MAINTAINED BY SUCH
32 PUBLIC ENTITY, EMPLOYEE, OFFICER OR AGENT; AND
33 B. (I) SHALL BE FURNISHED WHEN DESCRIBED IN A SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY
34 A COURT AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE SUCH A SEARCH WARRANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
35 SIX HUNDRED NINETY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW OR A FEDERAL COURT
36 AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE SUCH A SEARCH WARRANT UNDER FEDERAL LAW, WHERE SUCH
37 SEARCH WARRANT STATES THAT THERE IS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE SUCH
38 INFORMATION CONSTITUTES EVIDENCE OF, OR TENDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT, A
39 MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED IN THIS STATE OR ANOTHER
40 STATE, OR THAT A PARTICULAR PERSON PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMISSION OF A
41 MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE IN THIS STATE OR ANOTHER STATE, PROVIDED,
42 HOWEVER, THAT IF SUCH OFFENSE WAS AGAINST THE LAWS OF ANOTHER STATE, THE
43 COURT SHALL ONLY ISSUE A WARRANT IF THE CONDUCT COMPRISING SUCH OFFENSE
44 WOULD, IF OCCURRING IN THIS STATE, CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY
45 AGAINST THE LAWS OF THIS STATE; AND
46 (II) SHALL BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO A SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM SIGNED
47 BY A JUDGE OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND ISSUED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX
48 HUNDRED TEN OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW OR A JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE OF A
49 FEDERAL COURT AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE SUCH A SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM UNDER
50 FEDERAL LAW, WHERE THE JUDGE FINDS AND THE SUBPOENA STATES THAT THERE IS
51 REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE SUCH INFORMATION IS RELEVANT AND MATERIAL TO
52 THE PROSECUTION, OR THE DEFENSE, OR THE INVESTIGATION BY AN AUTHORIZED
53 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, OF THE ALLEGED COMMISSION OF A MISDEMEANOR OR
54 FELONY IN THIS STATE OR ANOTHER STATE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF SUCH
55 OFFENSE WAS AGAINST THE LAWS OF ANOTHER STATE, SUCH JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE
56 SHALL ONLY ISSUE SUCH SUBPOENA IF THE CONDUCT COMPRISING SUCH OFFENSE
A. 1942 3
1 WOULD, IF OCCURRING IN THIS STATE, CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY IN
2 THIS STATE; AND
3 (III) MAY, IF LAWFULLY OBTAINED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDI-
4 VISION OR THIS PARAGRAPH AND OTHERWISE ADMISSIBLE, BE USED IN SUCH CRIM-
5 INAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING; AND
6 C. MAY BE OBTAINED AND, IF OTHERWISE ADMISSIBLE, BE USED IN A CIVIL
7 COURT OR OTHER CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE OR ADJUDICATORY BODY IN ANY ACTION
8 OR PROCEEDING PENDING THEREIN WHEN SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATES
9 DIRECTLY TO THE COLLECTION OF TOLL OR FARE REVENUES AND IT IS ALLEGED:
10 (I) BY THE PROVIDER OF SUCH SERVICES THAT TOLLS OR FARES PROPERLY
11 CHARGED TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER REMAIN UNPAID; OR
12 (II) BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER THAT TOLLS OR FARES WERE IMPROPERLY CHARGED
13 TO SUCH HOLDER'S ACCOUNT; AND
14 D. MAY BE USED BY SUCH PUBLIC ENTITY OR A CONTRACTOR ON BEHALF OF A
15 PUBLIC ENTITY FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ACCOUNT HOLDER, INCLUDING
16 MONTHLY STATEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTIFICATION OF ALLEGED
17 VIOLATIONS; AND
18 E. MAY BE USED BY SUCH PUBLIC ENTITY OR A CONTRACTOR ON BEHALF OF A
19 PUBLIC ENTITY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER
20 COMMUNICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH ELECTRONIC
21 TOLL OR ELECTRONIC FARE INFORMATION SYSTEM; AND
22 F. LIMITED TO ELECTRONIC FARE INFORMATION MAY, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST OF
23 THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC
24 STUDENT HOLDING A STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD ISSUED BY THE METROPOLITAN
25 TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND/OR ONE OF ITS SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS, BE
26 PROVIDED BY SUCH METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND/OR SUBSIDIARY
27 CORPORATION TO SUCH BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
28 3. INFORMATION. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL PRECLUDE THE USE OF AGGREGATE
29 ELECTRONIC TOLL OR FARE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY INDIVID-
30 UAL ACCOUNT HOLDER IN AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING INVOLVING SUCH PUBLIC
31 ENTITY, NOR PRECLUDE THE USE, SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION
32 COMPILED FROM ELECTRONIC TOLL OR FARE INFORMATION, WHERE SUCH COMPILED
33 INFORMATION DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT HOLDER.
34 4. NOTICE. EVERY PUBLIC ENTITY THAT COLLECTS ELECTRONIC TOLL OR FARE
35 INFORMATION SHALL PROVIDE REGULAR AND CONSPICUOUS NOTICE, IN WRITING, TO
36 APPLICANTS AND ACCOUNT HOLDERS CONCERNING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
37 SECTION, WHICH NOTICE SHALL ALSO DESCRIBE THE MEANS BY WHICH ACCOUNT
38 HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN COPIES OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT RECORDS.
39 5. VIOLATIONS. ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY RELEASES OR PERMITS THE
40 RELEASE OF ELECTRONIC TOLL OR ELECTRONIC FARE INFORMATION THAT IS CONFI-
41 DENTIAL UNDER THIS SECTION TO A PERSON OR ENTITY NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE
42 SUCH INFORMATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY OF UP TO FIVE THOU-
43 SAND DOLLARS.
44 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
