Bill Text: NY S06802 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits the use of dashboard computers while operating a motor vehicle; provides definitions and exemptions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION [S06802 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-S06802-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6802 I N S E N A T E February 8, 2010 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting the use of dashboard computers 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 1225-e to read as follows: 3 S 1225-E. USE OF DASHBOARD COMPUTERS. 1. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED 4 IN THIS SECTION, NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING ANY 5 DASHBOARD COMPUTER WHILE SUCH VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. 6 2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE 7 THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS: 8 (A) "DASHBOARD COMPUTER" MEANS ANY DASHBOARD-MOUNTED HUMAN-MACHINE 9 INTERFACE (HMI) MODULE INCLUDING ANY MODULAR VEHICLE COMPUTER, VEHICLE 10 INFOTAINMENT COMPUTER, TOUCHSCREEN DASHBOARD-MOUNTED COMPUTER, AND ANY 11 HMI THAT PERFORMS FUNCTIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INTERNET 12 ACCESS, E-MAIL ACCESS AND/OR VIDEO PLAYBACK. 13 (B) "USING" MEANS TOUCHING, LOOKING AT, VIEWING, ACCESSING, BROWSING, 14 READING, AND/OR WATCHING. 15 3. THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY 16 TO: 17 (A) THE USE OF A DASHBOARD COMPUTER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF COMMUNI- 18 CATING WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING REGARDING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION: 19 (I) AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPERATOR; 20 (II) A HOSPITAL; 21 (III) A PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE OR HEALTH CLINIC; 22 (IV) AN AMBULANCE COMPANY OR CORPS; 23 (V) A FIRE DEPARTMENT, DISTRICT OR COMPANY; 24 (VI) OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT; 25 (B) THE USE OF A DASHBOARD COMPUTER TO ACCESS: 26 (I) TEMPERATURE CONTROLS; 27 (II) MUSIC CONTROLS, INCLUDING SATELLITE RADIO, AM/FM RADIO OR COMPACT 28 DISK CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS; EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15785-02-0 S. 6802 2 1 (III) OTHER DRIVER CONTROL PANEL FUNCTIONS; 2 (IV) ANY GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM UNIT; OR 3 (V) ANY ADVANCED DRIVING ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DAY OR NIGHT 4 VISION SUPPORT, PARKING AIDS, OR ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL; 5 (C) ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WHILE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR 6 OFFICIAL DUTIES: 7 (I) A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER; 8 (II) A MEMBER OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT, DISTRICT OR COMPANY; 9 (III) OR THE OPERATOR OF AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE AS DEFINED IN 10 SECTION ONE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER. 11 4. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE 12 THE SEIZURE OR FORFEITURE OF A DASHBOARD COMPUTER, UNLESS OTHERWISE 13 PROVIDED BY LAW. 14 5. A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE A TRAFFIC INFRACTION AND SHALL 15 BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS. 16 S 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 17 have become a law.