NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4647

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 10, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4015
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1180, V & T L

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Increases penalties for certain speed violations.

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4647

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing
penalties for certain speed violations

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation will increase monetary penalties for drivers convicted
of speeding in a work zone to further deter speeding and dangerous
behavior in work zones.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends section 1180 of the vehicle and traffic law to
increase penalties for speeding in a work zone as follows:

*For exceeding the speed limit by not more than 10 miles per hour, a
fine of not less than $135 and not more than $225. The current law
allows a fine of not less than $90 and not more than $150.

*For exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour but less
than 30 miles per hour, a fine of not less than $270 and not more than
$450. The current law allows a fine of not less than $180 and not more
than $300.

*For exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 miles per hour, a fine
not less than $540 and not more than $900. The current law allows a fine
of not less than $360 and not more than $300.

Section two establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation is critical to better protect both highway workers and
motorists. Construction and maintenance workers face significant risks
while working on roadways, and these dangers are exacerbated by driver
negligence.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, an average of 132 work-
ers are killed each year in work zone crashes, with thousands more
suffering injuries. In 2020 alone, nearly 850 fatalities occurred in
work zone crashes across the United States, with speeding and failure to
yield being among the leading contributing factors.  Speeding in work
zones significantly increases the risk of severe accidents, as reduced
speeds allow drivers more time to react to unexpected obstacles and
changing road conditions. The National Work Zone Safety Information
Clearinghouse highlights that drivers who speed are more likely to lose
control of their vehicles or fail to stop in time to avoid collisions.

The last time fines for speeding in work zones were increased in New
York was in the early 2000s. Since then, traffic volumes, roadwork
demands, size and weight of vehicles, and the risks to workers have
increased significantly.

However, the penalties for these offenses have not kept pace with the
growing dangers. A 2023 study by the National Safety Council found that
nearly half of all drivers admit to speeding in work zones. By increas-
ing these penalties, New York can send a strong message that such reck-
less driving will no longer be tolerated. Enhanced penalties will serve
as a deterrent, encouraging drivers to follow speed limits and move over
for roadside workers, thereby reducing the number of accidents and
fatalities.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2025: A 4015

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to New York State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
January 1, 2026

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4647
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COONEY -- 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  increasing
   penalties for certain speed violations
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subdivision h of section 1180 of the vehicle
 and traffic law, as amended by section 6 of part C of chapter 62 of  the
 laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Every person convicted of a violation of paragraph two of subdivi-
 sion (d), subdivision (f) or (g) of this section shall  be  punished  as
 follows:
   (i)  Where the court or tribunal records or enters that the speed upon
 which the conviction was based exceeded the applicable  speed  limit  by
 not  more  than  ten miles per hour, by a fine of not less than [ninety]
 ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE nor more than [one hundred  fifty]  TWO  HUNDRED
 TWENTY-FIVE dollars;
   (ii) Where the court or tribunal records or enters that the speed upon
 which  the  conviction  was based exceeded the applicable speed limit by
 more than ten miles per hour, but not more than thirty miles  per  hour,
 by  a fine of not less than [one hundred eighty] TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY nor
 more than [three hundred] FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY dollars or by  imprisonment
 for  not  more  than thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment,
 provided, however, that where the vehicle is either (A) in violation  of
 any  rules or regulations involving an out-of-service defect relating to
 brake systems, steering  components  and/or  coupling  devices,  or  (B)
 transporting  flammable  gas,  radioactive  materials or explosives, the
 fine shall be [three hundred] FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY dollars or imprisonment
 for not more than thirty days, or both such fine and imprisonment;
   (iii) Where the court or tribunal records or  enters  that  the  speed
 upon  which the conviction was based exceeded the applicable speed limit
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06968-01-5

 S. 4647                             2
 
 by more than thirty miles per hour, by a fine of not  less  than  [three
 hundred  sixty]  FIVE  HUNDRED  FORTY  nor  more than [six] NINE hundred
 dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by both such
 fine  and  imprisonment,  provided,  however,  that where the vehicle is
 either (A) in violation of any rules or regulations involving an out-of-
 service defect relating to brake  systems,  steering  components  and/or
 coupling devices, or (B) transporting flammable gas, radioactive materi-
 als  or  explosives,  the  fine  shall  be [six] NINE hundred dollars or
 imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both such fine and impri-
 sonment.
   § 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

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Senate Bill S4647

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4647

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Sponsored By

Jeremy Cooney

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4647 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments