NY State Senate Bill 2011-S5483

Senate Bill S5483

Signed By Governor

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Relates to blue lights on ambulances, emergency ambulance service vehicles and county emergency medical services vehicles

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A7919 - Signed by Governor

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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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jul 18, 2011	signed chap.143
Jul 08, 2011	delivered to governor
Jun 15, 2011	returned to assembly passed senate 3rd reading cal.1056 substituted for s5483
Jun 15, 2011	substituted by a7919
Jun 14, 2011	advanced to third reading
Jun 13, 2011	2nd report cal.
Jun 07, 2011	1st report cal.1056
May 25, 2011	referred to transportation

Votes

- Jun 15, 2011 - Floor Vote
  A7919
  
  62
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 15, 2011
      
      aye (62)
      
      Adams
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Alesi
      
      Avella
      
      Ball
      
      Bonacic
      
      Breslin
      
      Carlucci
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Duane
      
      Espaillat
      
      Farley
      
      Flanagan
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Golden
      
      Griffo
      
      Grisanti
      
      Hannon
      
      Hassell-Thompson
      
      Huntley
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      Kruger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Libous
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Martins
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Montgomery
      
      Nozzolio
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oppenheimer
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Saland
      
      Sampson
      
      Savino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Skelos
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin
  Jun 7, 2011 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S5483
  
  18
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: Jun 7, 2011
      
      aye (18)
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Larkin
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Nozzolio
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Robach
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Adams

2011-S5483 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7919
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §375, V & T L

2011-S5483 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to blue lights on ambulances, emergency ambulance service vehicles and county emergency medical services vehicles.

2011-S5483 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S5483

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to blue lights on
ambulances, emergency ambulance service vehicles and county emergency
medical services vehicles

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To better protect ambulances and
other emergency service vehicles at night by giving them the option
to use rear projecting blue-lights.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends section
375 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to include ambulances among the
vehicles currently given the option to utilize blue-lights.

Section two contains the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
Ambulance workers regularly attend to emergency
incidents on the state's highways. Performing emergency duties on the
side of the road presents significant risks to them. Unfortunately,
in these situations, many emergency responders are killed or injured
as a result of being struck by a passing motorist. Studies have shown

that the blue light is the most noticeable light, and as a result,
provides the highest level of safety.

Current law allows for one or more blue lights or combination of blue,
red and/or white lights to be affixed to a fire or police vehicle
provided that they are displayed for rear projection only.

Studies conducted by Ford Motor Company and the Florida Highway Patrol
clearly indicated that the perception-decision-response process in
driving, especially at night, favored the blue light over other
colors, particularly when approaching from the rear.

This bill would give the option for ambulances to be equipped with
rear facing blue lights, extending the perceptual advantage
attributed to them to ambulances.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2011-S5483 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  5483

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 25, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. MARTINS -- 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 blue  lights
  on  ambulances,  emergency ambulance service vehicles and county emer-
  gency medical services vehicles

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

  Section  1. Subparagraph b of paragraph 4 of subdivision 41 of section
375 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by  chapter  465  of  the
laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
  b.  In addition to the red and white lights authorized to be displayed
pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision, one or more  blue  lights
or  combination  blue  and red lights or combination blue, red and white
lights may be affixed to a police vehicle  [and],  fire  vehicle,  AMBU-
LANCE, EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE VEHICLE, AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES  VEHICLE  provided  that  such  blue  light  or lights shall be
displayed on a police vehicle [and], fire vehicle, AMBULANCE,  EMERGENCY
AMBULANCE SERVICE VEHICLE, AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE
for  rear projection only. In the event that the trunk or rear gate of a
police vehicle  [and],  fire  vehicle,  AMBULANCE,  EMERGENCY  AMBULANCE
SERVICE VEHICLE, AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE obstructs
or  diminishes  the visibility of other emergency lighting on such vehi-
cles, a blue light may be affixed to and displayed from the trunk,  rear
gate  or  interior  of  such vehicles. Such lights may be displayed on a
police vehicle  [and],  fire  vehicle,  AMBULANCE,  EMERGENCY  AMBULANCE
SERVICE VEHICLE, AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE when such
vehicles  are  engaged  in  an emergency operation. Nothing contained in
this subparagraph shall be deemed to authorize the use of blue lights on
police vehicles [and], fire vehicles,  AMBULANCES,  EMERGENCY  AMBULANCE
SERVICE  VEHICLES, AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLES unless
such vehicles also display one or more red or combination red and  white
lights as otherwise authorized in this subdivision.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11745-02-1

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