S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1971
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  MURRAY, RHOADS, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Trans-
   portation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  vehicle  and traffic law, in relation to yellow
   signals at traffic intersections
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Paragraphs  1 and 2 of subdivision (b) of section 1111 of
 the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 356 of  the  laws  of
 1971, are amended to read as follows:
   1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular yellow signal
 may enter the intersection; however, said traffic is thereby warned that
 the  related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication
 will be exhibited [immediately] A MINIMUM OF FOUR SECONDS thereafter.
   2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady  yellow  arrow  signal
 may  cautiously  enter  the  intersection  only to complete the movement
 indicated by such arrow or make such other movement as is  permitted  by
 other  indications  shown  at  the  same  time; however, said traffic is
 thereby warned that the related green arrow movement is being terminated
 or that a red indication will be exhibited [immediately]  A  MINIMUM  OF
 FOUR SECONDS thereafter.
   §  2.  Subdivision (c) of section 1681 of the vehicle and traffic law,
 as amended by chapter 689 of the laws of 1985, the opening paragraph  as
 amended  by  chapter  560  of  the  laws  of 2006, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (c) 1. Except as otherwise provided the cost of  providing,  erecting,
 maintaining  and removing traffic-control devices ordered by the depart-
 ment of transportation shall be paid from any moneys available  for  the
 maintenance,  repair  or  reconstruction of state highways upon vouchers
 approved by the department  of  transportation.  However,  the  work  of
 providing,  erecting  and  removing  such traffic-control devices may be
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01522-01-5
              

 S. 1971                             2
 
 performed by contract in the same manner as provided for state  highways
 in  article  three  of  the highway law, or, by the use of department of
 transportation forces and equipment and all materials  purchased  there-
 for,  or by a combination of such methods, and the cost of such work may
 be paid from such moneys available for the construction of  state  high-
 ways.  Except as herein provided, nothing shall be paid from such moneys
 for providing, erecting or maintaining traffic-control signals or flash-
 ing signals used in connection with regulating traffic  upon  a  highway
 under  the jurisdiction of the department of transportation at entrances
 to private property, and nothing shall be  paid  from  such  moneys  for
 maintaining   traffic-control   signals  or  flashing  signals  used  in
 connection with regulating traffic upon a highway under the jurisdiction
 of the department of transportation at entrances to schools. Upon deter-
 mination by the department of transportation of  the  need  for  such  a
 signal,  the  department  of transportation may permit any person, firm,
 association, corporation or public body to provide and erect such signal
 in accordance with  standards  and  specifications  established  by  the
 department  of  transportation.  The  department  of  transportation may
 require that some or all of the control equipment  used  in  the  signal
 construction  be  supplied  by the state to ensure equipment quality and
 compatibility with state practices and the cost of such furnished equip-
 ment shall be reimbursed to the state by the party receiving  permission
 to provide and erect the signal.
   2.  All  signals  erected on or after the first day of April, nineteen
 hundred eighty-six with permission of the department  of  transportation
 and  in  accordance with the standards and specifications established by
 the department of transportation shall be maintained by the  state.  The
 party which erected such signals shall pay the state an annual fee to be
 determined  by the commissioner of transportation. Such fees shall cover
 the cost of normal signal maintenance, but shall not include the cost of
 electrical energy or major modifications  or  replacements  which  shall
 remain  the  responsibility  of  the party which erected the signal. The
 department of transportation may, in its discretion, agree to assume the
 same maintenance responsibility for signals erected with the  permission
 of  the  department  of  transportation prior to the first day of April,
 nineteen hundred eighty-six, if the department of transportation  deter-
 mines  that such signal substantially meets established standards and is
 in a satisfactory state of repair. The party which erected such  signals
 shall  also pay the state an annual fee which shall be calculated in the
 same manner as fees for signals erected on or after  the  first  day  of
 April,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-six.  THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 SHALL FURTHER ENSURE THAT ALL TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN  ITS  JURISDIC-
 TION SHALL BE EXAMINED AND CERTIFIED TO BE ACCURATE EVERY TWO YEARS.
   3.  No  such traffic signal or flashing signal erected with permission
 of the department of transportation shall be  removed  except  with  the
 written consent of the department of transportation.
   4. The department of transportation shall have the right to revoke its
 permission  to  provide,  erect or maintain such a signal and shall have
 the right to require that the signal be removed  without  a  hearing  or
 necessity of showing cause.
   §  3. Section 1682 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap-
 ter 979 of the laws of 1962, is amended to read as follows:
   § 1682. Local traffic-control  devices.  Local  authorities  in  their
 respective  jurisdiction shall: (A) place and maintain such traffic-con-
 trol devices, conforming to the state manual and specifications, as they
 may deem necessary to indicate and carry  out  the  provisions  of  this
 S. 1971                             3
 
 chapter  or local traffic ordinances, orders, rules or regulations or to
 regulate, warn, or guide traffic, except that a city having a population
 in excess of one million shall conform to the state manual and  specifi-
 cations  only  insofar  as  such local authority in its discretion deems
 practicable; AND (B) ENSURE THAT ALL TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS  ARE  EXAM-
 INED AND CERTIFIED TO BE ACCURATE EVERY TWO YEARS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.