S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2119
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 12, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. RITCHIE, MARCHIONE -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Transporta-
   tion
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requirements
   for licensing
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law
 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c-3) to read as follows:
   (C-3) "MOTORCYCLE SAFETY" AWARENESS COMPONENT. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 PROVIDE  IN THE PRE-LICENSING COURSE, SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION, A MANDATORY  COMPONENT  IN  "MOTORCYCLE  SAFETY"  AWARENESS
 EDUCATION  AS  A PREREQUISITE FOR OBTAINING A LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR
 VEHICLE. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPONENT IS TO EDUCATE  PROSPECTIVE  LICEN-
 SEES  ON  THE  POTENTIAL DANGERS TO PERSONS OPERATING MOTORCYCLES ON THE
 ROADWAY.
   § 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502
 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 458 of the laws of
 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (i) Upon submission of an application  for  a  driver's  license,  the
 applicant  shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence
 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic,  the
 laws  relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat-
 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road  Rage",  [or]  "Work  Zone
 Safety"  awareness  AND  "MOTORCYCLE SAFETY" AWARENESS as defined by the
 commissioner, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding
 with a parked, stopped  or  standing  authorized  emergency  vehicle  or
 hazard  vehicle  pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this
 chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic  signs  and  symbols
 and  such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satis-
 factorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of  not  less
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07622-01-7

 S. 2119                             2
 
 than  four  hours  and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom
 driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent  there-
 of.  Such test shall include at least seven written questions concerning
 the  effects  of  consumption  of  alcohol  or drugs on the ability of a
 person to operate a motor vehicle and the  legal  and  financial  conse-
 quences  resulting  from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two
 of this chapter, prohibiting the operation  of  a  motor  vehicle  while
 under  the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or
 more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage"
 on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal  and
 financial  consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or inter-
 fering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the road-
 way. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the poten-
 tial  dangers  to  persons  and  equipment  resulting  from  the  unsafe
 operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. SUCH TEST SHALL INCLUDE ONE
 OR  MORE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO PERSONS OPERATING
 MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD. Such test may include  one  or  more  questions
 concerning  the  law  for  exercising due care to avoid colliding with a
 parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehi-
 cle pursuant to section eleven hundred  forty-four-a  of  this  chapter.
 Such  test  shall  be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner
 shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and  a  test  for  color
 blindness.  Upon  passage  of  the  vision  test, the application may be
 accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
   § 3.  Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision  4  of  section
 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97 of the laws
 of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   (i)  Upon  submission  of  an  application for a driver's license, the
 applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit  evidence
 of  passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the
 laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while  intoxicat-
 ed,  under  the  overpowering  influence of "Road Rage", [or] "Work Zone
 Safety" awareness AND "MOTORCYCLE SAFETY" AWARENESS as  defined  by  the
 commissioner, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding
 with  a  parked,  stopped  or  standing  authorized emergency vehicle or
 hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a  of  this
 chapter,  the  ability  to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols
 and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to  satis-
 factorily  complete  a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less
 than four hours and not more than five hours,  consisting  of  classroom
 driver  training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent there-
 of. Such test shall include at least seven written questions  concerning
 the  effects  of  consumption  of  alcohol  or drugs on the ability of a
 person to operate a motor vehicle and the  legal  and  financial  conse-
 quences  resulting  from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two
 of this chapter, prohibiting the operation  of  a  motor  vehicle  while
 under  the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or
 more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage"
 on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal  and
 financial  consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or inter-
 fering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the road-
 way. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the poten-
 tial  dangers  to  persons  and  equipment  resulting  from  the  unsafe
 operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. SUCH TEST SHALL INCLUDE ONE
 OR  MORE  QUESTIONS  CONCERNING  POTENTIAL  DANGERS TO PERSONS OPERATING
 MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD. Such test may include  one  or  more  questions

 S. 2119                             3
 
 concerning  the  law  for  exercising due care to avoid colliding with a
 parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section  eleven  hundred
 forty-four-a  of  this  chapter.  Such test shall be administered by the
 commissioner.  The  commissioner  shall  cause  the  applicant to take a
 vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon passage of  the  vision
 test,  the  application may be accepted and the application fee shall be
 payable.
   § 4. This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately;  provided,  however,
 section  three of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
 same manner as chapter 97 of the laws of 2016, takes effect.