New York S 5400: 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

Bill Text

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 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

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S05400 Summary:

BILL NOS05400 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A04658

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSRHELMING, RHOADS

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §39-c, Nav L

&nbsp

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.

Go to top S05400 Actions:

BILL NOS05400 

&nbsp

02/21/2025REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

04/08/20251ST REPORT CAL.665

04/09/20252ND REPORT CAL.

04/10/2025ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

04/30/2025PASSED SENATE

04/30/2025DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

04/30/2025referred to transportation

01/07/2026died in assembly

01/07/2026returned to senate

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

03/17/20261ST REPORT CAL.564

03/18/20262ND REPORT CAL.

03/19/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

03/24/2026PASSED SENATE

03/24/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

03/24/2026referred to transportation

Go to topS05400 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05400 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS05400 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5400

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 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:

 1 Section 1. The navigation law is amended by adding a new section 39-c
 2 to read as follows:
 3 § 39-c. Law enforcement and fire department vessels. 1. The operator
 4 of a law enforcement or fire department vessel, when involved in an
 5 emergency operation on the navigable waters of the state, may exercise
 6 the privileges set forth in subdivision two of this section, but subject
 7 to the conditions set forth in subdivisions three and four of this
 8 section.
 9 2. The operator of a law enforcement or fire department vessel may
 10 disregard any law, rule or regulation of this state or any local law or
 11 ordinance of a municipality of this state governing the movement or
 12 turning of vessels upon such navigable waters.
 13 3. The privileges granted to the operator of a law enforcement or fire
 14 department vessel pursuant to this section shall apply only when audible
 15 signals are sounded from any such vessel while in motion by bell, horn,
 16 siren, electronic device or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably neces-
 17 sary, and when the vessel is equipped with at least one lighted lamp so
 18 that from any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions from a
 19 distance of five hundred feet from such vessel, at least one blue or red
 20 light will be displayed and visible.
 21 4. The provisions of this section shall not relieve the operator of a
 22 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

 S. 5400 2

 1 vessel with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such
 2 provisions protect the operator from the consequences of such operator's
 3 reckless disregard for the safety of others.
 4 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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