S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  2587

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 19, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. HEASTIE, DenDEKKER, JAFFEE, COLTON, WEISENBERG,
  JEFFRIES, CAHILL, LUPARDO, MILLMAN, GIBSON, CASTRO, GABRYSZAK, HOOPER,
  TITUS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. AMEDORE, BOYLAND, COOK,  CRES-
  PO,  CROUCH,  FINCH,  GIGLIO, MARKEY, MENG, MONTESANO, NOLAN, PHEFFER,
  REILLY, SALADINO, TEDISCO, TOBACCO -- read once and  referred  to  the
  Committee on Transportation

AN  ACT  to  amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
  that the five hour pre-licensing course include  a  motorcycle  safety
  and  awareness  component,  and  that the driver's license examination
  include two questions concerning motorcycle safety and awareness

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

  Section  1.  Subparagraph  (i)  of  paragraph  (a) of subdivision 4 of
section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 387 of
the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
  (i) Upon submission of an application  for  a  driver's  license,  the
applicant  shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence
of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic,  the
laws  relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat-
ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", or "Work Zone Safe-
ty" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to  exer-
cising  due  care  to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing
authorized emergency vehicle pursuant to section eleven  hundred  forty-
four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs
and  symbols  and  such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe,
and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by  the  commissioner
of  not less than four hours and not more than five hours, consisting of
classroom driver training, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND  AWARENESS  INSTRUCTION
and  highway  safety  instruction  or  the equivalent thereof. Such test
shall include at least seven written questions concerning the effects of
consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to operate  a

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02181-01-1
              

A. 2587                             2

motor  vehicle  and  the legal and financial consequences resulting from
violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter, prohib-
iting the operation of a motor vehicle  while  under  the  influence  of
alcohol  or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written questions
concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the  ability  of  a
person  to  operate  a  motor vehicle and the legal and financial conse-
quences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering  with  the
lawful  conduct  of  another person legally using the roadway. Such test
shall include one or more questions concerning the potential dangers  to
persons  and  equipment  resulting  from the unsafe operation of a motor
vehicle in a work zone.  SUCH TEST SHALL INCLUDE AT  LEAST  TWO  WRITTEN
QUESTIONS  CONCERNING  MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND AWARENESS AND THE POTENTIAL
DANGERS TO MOTORCYCLISTS RESULTING FROM THE UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF A  DRIVER
OR  OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHARING THE ROADWAYS WITH SUCH MOTORCY-
CLISTS. Such test may include one or more questions concerning  the  law
for  exercising  due  care  to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or
standing authorized emergency vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred
forty-four-a of this chapter. Such test shall  be  administered  by  the
commissioner.  The  commissioner  shall  cause  the  applicant to take a
vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon passage of  the  vision
test,  the  application may be accepted and the application fee shall be
payable.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.