Senate Bill S5400

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Exempts operators of law enforcement and fire department vessels from laws which regulate vessels on the navigable waters of the state while responding to emergencies

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation 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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2025-S5400 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A4658
Current Committee:
Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:
Navigation Law
Laws Affected:
Add §39-c, Nav L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S584
2011-2012: S922
2013-2014: S1504, A7656
2015-2016: S387, A7087
2017-2018: S1185, A7612
2019-2020: S3012, A7931
2021-2022: S988, A2577
2023-2024: S4026, A9749

2025-S5400 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Exempts operators of law enforcement and fire department vessels from laws which regulate vessels on the navigable waters of the state while such operators are in the course of responding to emergencies.

2025-S5400 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S5400 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5400
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs,
   Tourism, Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT to  amend  the  navigation  law,  in  relation  to  providing  an
   exemption  from certain laws for operators of law enforcement and fire
   department vessels responding to emergencies on the  navigable  waters
   of the state
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The navigation law is amended by adding a new section  39-c
 to read as follows:
   §  39-C.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT VESSELS. 1. THE OPERATOR
 OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT  VESSEL,  WHEN  INVOLVED  IN  AN
 EMERGENCY  OPERATION  ON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE STATE, MAY EXERCISE
 THE PRIVILEGES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, BUT SUBJECT
 TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN  SUBDIVISIONS  THREE  AND  FOUR  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   2.  THE  OPERATOR  OF  A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT VESSEL MAY
 DISREGARD ANY LAW, RULE OR REGULATION OF THIS STATE OR ANY LOCAL LAW  OR
 ORDINANCE  OF  A  MUNICIPALITY  OF  THIS STATE GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT OR
 TURNING OF VESSELS UPON SUCH NAVIGABLE WATERS.
   3. THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO THE OPERATOR OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE
 DEPARTMENT VESSEL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY ONLY WHEN AUDIBLE
 SIGNALS ARE SOUNDED FROM ANY SUCH VESSEL WHILE IN MOTION BY BELL,  HORN,
 SIREN,  ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR EXHAUST WHISTLE AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECES-
 SARY, AND WHEN THE VESSEL IS EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE LIGHTED LAMP  SO
 THAT  FROM  ANY  DIRECTION,  UNDER  NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS FROM A
 DISTANCE OF FIVE HUNDRED FEET FROM SUCH VESSEL, AT LEAST ONE BLUE OR RED
 LIGHT WILL BE DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE.
   4. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT RELIEVE THE OPERATOR OF  A
 LAW  ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT VESSEL FROM THE DUTY TO OPERATE SUCH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07722-01-5

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