New York S 5661: Relates to the operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles

Bill Text

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S05661 Summary:

BILL NOS05661 

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SAME ASSAME AS A06564

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SPONSOROBERACKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §1144, V & T L

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Requires drivers to create a center rescue lane on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.

Go to top S05661 Actions:

BILL NOS05661 

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02/26/2025REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

03/10/2026NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED

05/05/2026REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CITIES 1

Go to topS05661 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05661 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS05661 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5661

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 26, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. OBERACKER -- 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 operation of
 vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 1144 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by
 2 chapter 300 of the laws of 1960, subdivision (a) as amended by chapter
 3 606 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
 4 § 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency
 5 vehicles. (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
 6 vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light
 7 visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five
 8 hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or
 9 bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audi-
 10 ble signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle,
 11 bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehi-
 12 cle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a posi-
 13 tion parallel to, and as close as possible to [the right-hand] either
 14 edge or curb of the roadway to create a rescue lane in the center, or to
 15 [either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width] the
 16 right-hand edge of a roadway one lane in width, clear of any inter-
 17 section, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized
 18 emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police
 19 officer.
 20 (b) In instances when traffic is moving slowly, stopped, or in grid-
 21 lock drivers shall create a rescue lane to allow authorized emergency
 22 vehicles to pass. On roadways with multiple lanes of traffic drivers in
 23 the leftmost lane shall move to the left edge of the roadway, drivers in
 24 the rightmost lane shall move to the right edge of the roadway, and
 25 drivers in the center lanes shall move toward the left or right to

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10331-01-5

 S. 5661 2

 1 create a clear lane in the center of the roadway until the authorized
 2 emergency vehicle is passed. On a one lane roadway drivers shall move as
 3 far to the right as possible until the authorized emergency vehicle is
 4 passed.
 5 (c) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an author-
 6 ized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for
 7 all persons using the highway.
 8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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