Requires the commissioner of the department of transportation in consultation with the department of motor vehicles to develop a program addressing the problem of wrong way drivers on New York interstate highways.

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S1500-2013 Actions

• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S1500-2013 Meetings

Transportation: May 30, 2013

S1500-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1500                REVISED 1/11/13

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the highway law, in relation to requir-
ing the development of a program addressing the problem of wrong way
drivers on New York interstate highways

PURPOSE: This legislation requires the New York State Department of
Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles,
to develop a program to address the problem of wrong way drivers in New
York State.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: The highway law is amended by adding a new
section 67 to require the New York State Department of Transportation,
in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to develop a
program to address the problem of wrong way drivers in New York State
within one year.

JUSTIFICATION: Tragic incidents of wrong way driving our occurring at an
alarming rate. On July 5, 2010 at approximately 6 am, Huntington resi-
dent John Rey was driving his Super Shuttle van, as he did responsibly
for over 25 years, and was hit head-on on by a drunk driver on the Long
Island Expressway in Queens. The drunk driver entered the expressway
going the wrong direction. Mr. Rey was taken to New York Hospital in
Queens. After 16 days of a brutal fight for his life, he passed away on
July 22, 2010.

There have been too many unjust deaths that did not have to happen if
the wrong-way drivers were prevented from entering the highway the
wrong-way. This legislation requires the New York State Department of
Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles,
to develop a program to address the problem of wrong way drivers within
one year.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S938/A.4790 of 2011/12.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

S1500-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    1500

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 9, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen.  MARCELLINO  -- read twice and ordered printed, and
    when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

  AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to requiring  the  develop-
    ment  of  a program addressing the problem of wrong way drivers on New
    York interstate highways

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1.  The  highway law is amended by adding a new section 67 to
  read as follows:

    S 67. WRONG WAY DRIVER PROGRAM. 1. WITHIN ONE YEAR  OF  THE  EFFECTIVE
  DATE  OF  THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
  NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT  OF  MOTOR  VEHICLES,  DEVELOP  A  PROGRAM  TO
  ADDRESS  THE  PROBLEM  OF WRONG WAY DRIVERS ON NEW YORK INTERSTATE HIGH-
  WAYS.
    2. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL:

    A. INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM OF WRONG  WAY  DRIVERS
  ON NEW YORK INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS;
    B. ASSESS WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM;
    C. SET FORTH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM; AND
    D.  IMPLEMENT  MEASURES  TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM OF WRONG WAY DRIVERS ON
  NEW YORK INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.



   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD03257-01-3