BILL NUMBER: S6921

SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to the displaying of a bus driver's credentials while he or she
is on duty and the review of his or her files

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a new credential
for individuals qualified to drive a bus under Article 19A of the Vehi-
cle and Traffic Law and to require the display of such credential inside
of a bus while the bus driver is on duty. This would allow consumers and
passengers to verify that their bus driver has met all of the legal
requirements to drive the bus.

To require the Department of Motor Vehicles to perform an annual audit
of motor carriers subject to VTL Article 19A requirements at least once
a year to ensure that motor carriers are in compliance with the law.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
              

Section 1 of the bill is amended and adds a new subdivision 5 to section
509(b) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require bus driver credentials
to always be displayed prominently in the front of the bus while the bus
driver is on duty. The credential must be displayed prominently for
passengers and consumers to see while boarding.

Section 2 of the bill will amend Section 509(m)(1) and add a new subdi-
vision 8 to the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require the Department of
Motor Vehicles to review a motor carriers records once every year
instead of every three years. The new subdivision 8 added to section
509(m) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law will require the DMV to issue a
new credential annually for bus drivers qualified to drive a bus under
Article 19A, and such credential should be designed to be publicly
displayed.

Section 3 of the bill states that the act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Private charter buses have dramatically increased service within New
York State. Consumers are routinely boarding such buses to visit casinos
and other destinations in and out of New York State. There has been an
increase in the number of accidents involving such buses, and some of
these accidents have involved drivers who were not qualified and or
properly licensed to drive passenger buses.

The public display of a credential issued by the DMV would allow consum-
ers to know that their bus driver is properly licensed and qualified.
The public display of said credential is similar to the requirements
some municipalities have for livery drivers and for-hire taxis to
display a similar credential, or for public bus operators who wear a
uniform and identifying information.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.