New York A 171: Authorizes drivers to disobey a traffic-control device or signal, after exercising reasonable care, in order to yield the right of way to an authorized emergency vehicle

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A00171 Summary:

BILL NOA00171 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSOREichenstein

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§1110, 1111, 1113, 1116 & 1144, add §1113-a, V & T L

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Authorizes drivers to disobey a traffic-control device or signal, after exercising reasonable care, in order to yield the right of way to an authorized emergency vehicle.

Go to top A00171 Actions:

BILL NOA00171 

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01/08/2025referred to transportation

01/07/2026referred to transportation

Go to topA00171 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA00171 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA00171 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 171

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. EICHENSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Transportation

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
 an operator of a motor vehicle to disobey a traffic-control device or
 signal in the course of yielding the right of way to an authorized
 emergency vehicle

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

 1 Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 1110 of the vehicle and traffic
 2 law, as amended by chapter 259 of the laws of 1964, is amended to read
 3 as follows:
 4 (a) Every person shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-
 5 control device applicable to [him] such person placed in accordance with
 6 the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic
 7 or police officer, or unless otherwise authorized by section eleven
 8 hundred forty-four of this title, subject to the exceptions granted the
 9 driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this title.
 10 § 2. Paragraphs 1 and 3 of subdivision (d) of section 1111 of the
 11 vehicle and traffic law, paragraph 1 as amended by chapter 760 of the
 12 laws of 1974 and paragraph 3 as amended by chapter 356 of the laws of
 13 1971 and as renumbered by chapter 760 of the laws of 1974, are amended
 14 to read as follows:
 15 1. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular red signal,
 16 unless to make such other movement as is permitted by other indications
 17 shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if
 18 none, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of
 19 the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point
 20 nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the
 21 approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the
 22 intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00621-01-5

 A. 171 2

 1 shown except as provided in paragraph two of this subdivision or as
 2 authorized by section eleven hundred forty-four of this title.
 3 3. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady red arrow signal may
 4 not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by such arrow
 5 and, unless entering the intersection to make such other movement as is
 6 permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a
 7 clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before entering
 8 the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event
 9 there is no crosswalk at the point nearest the intersecting roadway
 10 where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersect-
 11 ing roadway before entering the intersection and shall remain standing
 12 until an indication to proceed is shown except as authorized by section
 13 eleven hundred forty-four of this title.
 14 § 3. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 15 1113-a to read as follows:
 16 § 1113-a. Review of traffic-control violation; yielding right of way
 17 to an authorized emergency vehicle. (a) Every municipality which is
 18 authorized to install and operate traffic-control signal photo violation
 19 monitoring devices pursuant to this article, shall establish and imple-
 20 ment a program and methodology which provides for the review of the
 21 photographs, microphotogr