Bill Text: NY A06653 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizes the use of photo devices to capture people driving in excess of the maximum posted speed limits in certain counties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to transportation [A06653 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A06653-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         6653
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                    April 12, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Transportation
       AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
         in  each  county  with  a  population  of one million or more a demon-
         stration program to enforce maximum speed limits  by  means  of  speed
         limit  photo  devices; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
         upon expiration thereof
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
    2  section 1180-b to read as follows:
    3    S 1180-B. OWNER LIABILITY FOR  FAILURE  OF  OPERATOR  TO  COMPLY  WITH
    4  APPLICABLE  MAXIMUM  SPEED LIMIT. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION
    5  OF LAW, EACH COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE  IS  HEREBY
    6  AUTHORIZED  AND  EMPOWERED TO ESTABLISH A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IMPOSING
    7  MONETARY LIABILITY ON THE OWNER OF A VEHICLE FOR FAILURE OF AN  OPERATOR
    8  THEREOF TO COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT IN SUCH COUNTY
    9  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.  SUCH COUNTY, FOR
   10  PURPOSES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF  SUCH  PROGRAM,  SHALL  OPERATE  SPEED
   11  LIMIT  PHOTO  DEVICES WITHIN SUCH COUNTY AT NO MORE THAN FIFTY LOCATIONS
   12  AT ANY ONE TIME DURING ANY YEAR OF SUCH PROGRAM.  SUCH SPEED LIMIT PHOTO
   13  DEVICES MAY BE STATIONARY OR MOBILE AND SHALL BE ACTIVATED AT  LOCATIONS
   14  SELECTED BY SUCH COUNTY.  SUCH SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICES SHALL BE PLACED
   15  AT LOCATIONS BASED ON CRITERIA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WHETHER THE
   16  LOCATION  IS  WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF A SCHOOL, SPEEDING DATA, ACCIDENT
   17  HISTORY,  PROXIMITY  TO  FACILITIES  FOR  SENIOR  CITIZENS  OR  DISABLED
   18  PERSONS, ROADWAY GEOMETRY AND EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.
   19    2. IN ANY COUNTY THAT HAS ESTABLISHED A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PURSUANT
   20  TO  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS  SECTION, THE OWNER OF A VEHICLE SHALL BE
   21  LIABLE FOR A PENALTY IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION  IF  SUCH  VEHICLE
   22  WAS  USED  OR  OPERATED  WITH  THE  PERMISSION  OF THE OWNER, EXPRESS OR
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD10042-01-3
       A. 6653                             2
    1  IMPLIED, IN VIOLATION OF  SUBDIVISION  (C)  OR  (D)  OF  SECTION  ELEVEN
    2  HUNDRED  EIGHTY  OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  AND  SUCH VIOLATION IS EVIDENCED BY
    3  INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICE;  PROVIDED  HOWEVER
    4  THAT  NO OWNER OF A VEHICLE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A PENALTY IMPOSED PURSU-
    5  ANT TO THIS  SECTION  WHERE  THE  OPERATOR  OF  SUCH  VEHICLE  HAS  BEEN
    6  CONVICTED  OF  THE  UNDERLYING  VIOLATION  OF  SUBDIVISION (C) OR (D) OF
    7  SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE.
    8    3. SUCH DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM SHALL UTILIZE NECESSARY TECHNOLOGIES  TO
    9  ENSURE,  TO  THE  EXTENT  PRACTICABLE, THAT PHOTOGRAPHS PRODUCED BY SUCH
   10  SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICES SHALL NOT INCLUDE  IMAGES  THAT  IDENTIFY  THE
   11  DRIVER,  THE PASSENGERS OR THE CONTENTS OF THE VEHICLE, PROVIDED, HOWEV-
   12  ER, THAT NO NOTICE OF LIABILITY ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
   13  DISMISSED SOLELY BECAUSE A PHOTOGRAPH OR PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOW FOR THE IDEN-
   14  TIFICATION OF THE DRIVER, THE PASSENGERS OR OTHER CONTENTS OF A VEHICLE,
   15  PROVIDED THAT SUCH COUNTY HAS MADE A REASONABLE EFFORT  TO  COMPLY  WITH
   16  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   17    4.  SUCH  DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE A PROHIBITION ON THE USE
   18  OR DISSEMINATION OF VEHICLES' LICENSE PLATE INFORMATION AND OTHER INFOR-
   19  MATION AND IMAGES CAPTURED BY SPEED CAMERAS EXCEPT AS REQUIRED TO ESTAB-
   20  LISH LIABILITY UNDER THIS  SECTION  OR  COLLECT  PAYMENT  OF  PENALTIES;
   21  EXCEPT  AS REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO A REQUEST BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
   22  PERTAINING TO A SPECIFIC ACCIDENT OR SPECIFIC INCIDENT OF ALLEGED CRIMI-
   23  NAL CONDUCT; OR EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW.
   24    5. FOR PURPOSES OF  THIS  SECTION,  "OWNER"  SHALL  HAVE  THE  MEANING
   25  PROVIDED  IN  SECTION  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-NINE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER. FOR
   26  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICE" SHALL  MEAN  EQUIP-
   27  MENT  THAT  TAKES A FILM OR DIGITAL CAMERA-BASED PHOTOGRAPH, MICROPHOTO-
   28  GRAPH, VIDEO, OR OTHER RECORDED IMAGE WHICH IS LINKED WITH  A  VIOLATION
   29  DETECTION SYSTEM THAT SYNCHRONIZES THE TAKING OF SUCH IMAGE OF A VEHICLE
   30  AT  THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED OR OPERATED IN VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION
   31  (C) OR (D) OF SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE.
   32    6. A CERTIFICATE, SWORN TO OR AFFIRMED BY A TECHNICIAN EMPLOYED BY THE
   33  COUNTY IN WHICH THE CHARGED VIOLATION OCCURRED OR ITS VENDOR OR CONTRAC-
   34  TOR, OR A FACSIMILE  THEREOF,  BASED  UPON  INSPECTION  OF  PHOTOGRAPHS,
   35  MICROPHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPE OR OTHER RECORDED IMAGES PRODUCED BY A SPEED
   36  LIMIT PHOTO DEVICE, SHALL BE PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF THE FACTS CONTAINED
   37  THEREIN.  ANY PHOTOGRAPHS, MICROPHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPE OR OTHER RECORDED
   38  IMAGES EVIDENCING SUCH A VIOLATION SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION  IN
   39  ANY  PROCEEDING  TO ADJUDICATE THE LIABILITY FOR SUCH VIOLATION PURSUANT
   40  TO THIS SECTION.
   41    7. AN OWNER LIABLE FOR A  VIOLATION  OF  SUBDIVISION  (C)  OR  (D)  OF
   42  SECTION  ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR MONE-
   43  TARY PENALTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A  SCHEDULE  OF  FINES  AND  PENALTIES
   44  PROMULGATED  BY  THE PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU OF SUCH COUNTY; PROVIDED,
   45  HOWEVER, THAT THE MONETARY PENALTY FOR DRIVING AT A SPEED IN  EXCESS  OF
   46  THE  MAXIMUM  SPEED  LIMIT  BY  TEN OR MORE MILES PER HOUR AND LESS THAN
   47  THIRTY MILES PER HOUR SHALL NOT EXCEED FIFTY DOLLARS, AND  THE  MONETARY
   48  PENALTY  FOR  DRIVING  IN EXCESS OF THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT BY THIRTY OR
   49  MORE MILES PER HOUR SHALL NOT  EXCEED  ONE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS;  PROVIDED,
   50  FURTHER,  THAT AN OWNER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY NOT TO
   51  EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION FOR THE FAILURE TO RESPOND
   52  TO A NOTICE OF LIABILITY WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME PERIOD.
   53    8. AN IMPOSITION OF LIABILITY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION  SHALL  NOT  BE
   54  DEEMED  A  CONVICTION  AS  AN OPERATOR AND SHALL NOT BE MADE PART OF THE
   55  OPERATING RECORD OF THE PERSON UPON WHOM SUCH LIABILITY IS  IMPOSED  NOR
       A. 6653                             3
    1  SHALL  IT BE USED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES IN THE PROVISION OF MOTOR VEHI-
    2  CLE INSURANCE COVERAGE.
    3    9.  (A)  A  NOTICE  OF  LIABILITY SHALL BE SENT BY FIRST CLASS MAIL IN
    4  ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION TO EACH PERSON ALLEGED TO BE LIABLE  AS  AN
    5  OWNER  FOR  A  VIOLATION  OF  SUBDIVISION  (C)  OR (D) OF SECTION ELEVEN
    6  HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE. PERSONAL DELIVERY ON THE OWNER SHALL NOT
    7  BE REQUIRED. A MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC RECORD OF  MAILING  PREPARED  IN  THE
    8  ORDINARY  COURSE  OF BUSINESS SHALL BE PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF THE FACTS
    9  CONTAINED THEREIN.
   10    (B) A NOTICE OF LIABILITY SHALL CONTAIN THE NAME AND  ADDRESS  OF  THE
   11  PERSON  ALLEGED  TO BE LIABLE AS AN OWNER FOR A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION
   12  (C) OR (D) OF SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE, THE  REGIS-
   13  TRATION  NUMBER  OF THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SUCH VIOLATION, THE LOCATION
   14  WHERE SUCH VIOLATION TOOK PLACE, THE DATE AND TIME OF SUCH VIOLATION AND
   15  THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF THE SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICE WHICH RECORDED
   16  THE VIOLATION OR OTHER DOCUMENT LOCATOR NUMBER.
   17    (C) THE NOTICE OF LIABILITY SHALL  CONTAIN  INFORMATION  ADVISING  THE
   18  PERSON CHARGED OF THE MANNER AND THE TIME IN WHICH HE OR SHE MAY CONTEST
   19  THE LIABILITY ALLEGED IN THE NOTICE. SUCH NOTICE OF LIABILITY SHALL ALSO
   20  CONTAIN  A WARNING TO ADVISE THE PERSONS CHARGED THAT FAILURE TO CONTEST
   21  IN THE MANNER AND TIME PROVIDED SHALL BE DEEMED AN ADMISSION OF  LIABIL-
   22  ITY AND THAT A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED THEREON.
   23    (D) THE NOTICE OF LIABILITY SHALL BE PREPARED AND MAILED BY THE AGENCY
   24  OR AGENCIES DESIGNATED BY SUCH COUNTY.
   25    10.  IF  AN OWNER OF A VEHICLE RECEIVES A NOTICE OF LIABILITY PURSUANT
   26  TO THIS SECTION FOR ANY  TIME  PERIOD  DURING  WHICH  SUCH  VEHICLE  WAS
   27  REPORTED  TO  THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS HAVING BEEN STOLEN, IT SHALL BE A
   28  VALID DEFENSE TO AN ALLEGATION OF LIABILITY FOR A VIOLATION OF  SUBDIVI-
   29  SION  (C)  OR  (D) OF SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE THAT
   30  THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE AS STOLEN PRIOR TO THE  TIME
   31  THE  VIOLATION  OCCURRED  AND  HAD  NOT BEEN RECOVERED BY SUCH TIME. FOR
   32  PURPOSES OF ASSERTING THE DEFENSE PROVIDED BY THIS SUBDIVISION IT  SHALL
   33  BE SUFFICIENT THAT AN ORIGINAL INCIDENT FORM ISSUED BY THE POLICE ON THE
   34  STOLEN  VEHICLE  BE  SENT  BY FIRST CLASS MAIL TO THE PARKING VIOLATIONS
   35  BUREAU OF SUCH COUNTY.
   36    11. (A) AN OWNER WHO IS A LESSOR OF A VEHICLE TO  WHICH  A  NOTICE  OF
   37  LIABILITY  WAS ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION NINE OF THIS SECTION SHALL
   38  NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION (C)  OR  (D)  OF  SECTION
   39  ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE, PROVIDED THAT:
   40    (I)  PRIOR  TO  THE  VIOLATION, THE LESSOR HAS FILED WITH SUCH PARKING
   41  VIOLATIONS BUREAU IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  TWO
   42  HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THIS CHAPTER; AND
   43    (II)  WITHIN THIRTY-SEVEN DAYS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE FROM SUCH BUREAU
   44  OF THE DATE AND TIME OF A LIABILITY, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER INFORMATION
   45  CONTAINED IN THE ORIGINAL NOTICE OF LIABILITY,  THE  LESSOR  SUBMITS  TO
   46  SUCH  BUREAU  THE  CORRECT NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE LESSEE OF THE VEHICLE
   47  IDENTIFIED IN THE NOTICE OF LIABILITY AT THE  TIME  OF  SUCH  VIOLATION,
   48  TOGETHER WITH SUCH OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE RENTAL,
   49  LEASE  OR OTHER CONTRACT DOCUMENT, AS MAY BE REASONABLY REQUIRED BY SUCH
   50  BUREAU PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE PROMULGATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
   51    (B) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF  THIS
   52  SUBDIVISION  SHALL RENDER THE OWNER LIABLE FOR THE PENALTY PRESCRIBED IN
   53  THIS SECTION.
   54    (C) WHERE THE LESSOR COMPLIES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A)  OF
   55  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  THE  LESSEE  OF  SUCH  VEHICLE  ON  THE DATE OF SUCH
   56  VIOLATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE THE OWNER OF SUCH VEHICLE  FOR  PURPOSES
       A. 6653                             4
    1  OF THIS SECTION, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO LIABILITY FOR SUCH VIOLATION PURSU-
    2  ANT  TO THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE SENT A NOTICE OF LIABILITY PURSUANT TO
    3  SUBDIVISION NINE OF THIS SECTION.
    4    12.  IF  THE OWNER LIABLE FOR A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION (C) OR (D) OF
    5  SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION
    6  WAS  NOT  THE  OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE VIOLATION, THE
    7  OWNER MAY MAINTAIN AN ACTION FOR INDEMNIFICATION AGAINST THE OPERATOR.
    8    13. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT THE  LIABILITY
    9  OF  AN OPERATOR OF A VEHICLE FOR ANY VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION (C) OR (D)
   10  OF SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS ARTICLE.
   11    14. ANY COUNTY THAT ADOPTS A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PURSUANT TO  SUBDI-
   12  VISION  ONE  OF THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE
   13  USE OF SPEED LIMIT PHOTO DEVICES TO THE GOVERNOR, THE  TEMPORARY  PRESI-
   14  DENT  OF  THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY BY APRIL FIRST, TWO
   15  THOUSAND TWENTY. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   16    (A) A DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE  SPEED  LIMIT  PHOTO  DEVICES
   17  WERE USED;
   18    (B) THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS RECORDED AT EACH SUCH LOCATION AND IN THE
   19  AGGREGATE ON A DAILY, WEEKLY AND MONTHLY BASIS;
   20    (C) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTICES OF LIABILITY ISSUED;
   21    (D)  THE  NUMBER  OF  FINES AND TOTAL AMOUNT OF FINES PAID AFTER FIRST
   22  NOTICE OF LIABILITY;
   23    (E) THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS ADJUDICATED AND RESULTS OF  SUCH  ADJUDI-
   24  CATIONS INCLUDING BREAKDOWNS OF DISPOSITIONS MADE;
   25    (F) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE REALIZED BY SUCH COUNTY; AND
   26    (G) QUALITY OF THE ADJUDICATION PROCESS AND ITS RESULTS.
   27    S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
   28  have become a law and shall expire 5 years  after  such  effective  date
   29  when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
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