BILL NUMBER: S376

SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to passenger registration of pickup trucks

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Notwithstanding and other provisions of this chapter or other law, rule
or regulation, section 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law will be
amended by adding a new subdivision 16-A. This new subdivision will
allow a pickup truck, which is used exclusively for non-commercial
purposes, to be classified as a passenger vehicle and registered accord-
ingly at the option of the registrant.  For the purposes of this subdi-
vision a pickup truck will be defined as any truck, regardless of
weight, which has a cargo bed and side walls, regardless of seating
capacity within the cab.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the current law a family who uses their pickup truck to tow a recre-
              

ational camper or vehicle is exposed to a $200 fine for using their
pickup truck, which is registered commercially yet isn't actually used
for commercial purposes, when driving through New York City. Many people
choose to visit the sites of America and the great state of New York in
this fashion yet they are subjected to predatory stops and fines when
approaching and using the crossings in and around New York City; regard-
less of the intent of the law.

This bill aims to correct this oversight in the current Vehicle and
Traffic law by allowing pickup trucks which are not used for commercial
purposes to be registered as passenger vehicles. This bill will both
correct this problem and further foster tourism in New York.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S.4435 -Referred to Transportation/A.5912 - Referred to Transpor-
tation
2017: S.4435-Referred to Transportation/A.5912 - Referred to Transporta-
tion
2016: S.2446-Referred to Transportation/A.4496 Referred to Transporta-
tion
2015: S.2446-Referred to Transportation/A.4496 Referred to Transporta-
tion
2014: A.4433 -Referred to Transportation
2013: A.4433 -Held for Consideration in Transportation
2012: A.10383- Referred to Transportation

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect sixtieth days after it becomes law.