A 5446: Relates to the registration and operation of high-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5446 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 14, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, the state finance law and the education law, in relation to high-speed electric personal assis- tive mobility devices The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 114-d of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by 2 chapter 365 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows: 3 § 114-d. Electric personal assistive mobility device. Every self-ba- 4 lancing, one wheeled or two non-tandem wheeled device designed to trans- 5 port one person by means of an electric propulsion system with an aver- 6 age output of not more than seven hundred fifty watts (one horsepower), 7 and the maximum speed of which on a paved level surface, when propelled 8 solely by its electric propulsion system while ridden by an operator 9 weighing one hundred seventy pounds, is less than [twelve and one-half] 10 twenty miles per hour. 11 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 12 114-f to read as follows: 13 § 114-f. High-speed electric personal assistive mobility device. Every 14 self-balancing, one wheeled or two tandem or non-tandem wheeled device 15 designed to transport one person by means of an electric propulsion 16 system that exceeds twenty miles per hour on a paved level surface, when 17 propelled solely by its electric propulsion system while ridden by an 18 operator weighing less than one hundred seventy pounds. 19 § 3. Section 121-c of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap- 20 ter 931 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows: 21 § 121-c. Limited use vehicle. A motor vehicle, other than one regis- 22 tered or capable of being registered pursuant to sections four hundred 23 one [or], four hundred ten, or four hundred fourteen of this chapter, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08415-01-5 
 A. 5446 2 1 which has a maximum performance speed of not more than forty miles per 2 hour, as defined in section one hundred twenty-two-b of this chapter. 3 § 4. Section 204 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 4 464 of the laws of 1960, is amended to read as follows: 5 § 204. Subpoenaing hearing referees. No officer or employee of the 6 department of motor vehicles who has conducted a hearing concerning an 7 owner or operator of a motor vehicle, high-speed electric personal 8 assistive mobility device, or motorcycle shall be required to appear in 9 any court as a witness in a civil action in which such owner or operator 10 is a party except pursuant to a subpoena signed by a judge of a court of 11 record, or a judge of the court in which the action is pending, issued 12 upon an application to such judge after, at least, one day's notice to 13 the commissioner or a deputy commissioner of motor vehicles. 14 § 5. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 15 12-E to read as follows: 16 ARTICLE 12-E 17 EQUIPMENT OF HIGH-SPEED ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES 18 Section 399-aa. Design and manufacture. 19 399-bb. Turning indicators. 20 399-cc. Bells. 21 399-dd. Pedestrian safety standards. 22 399-ee. Prohibited chargers. 23 399-ff. Operator's manual. 24 399-gg. Law governing disputes over design, manufacture, and 25 safety. 26 § 399-aa. Design and manufacture. Other than the special provisions 27 under this article, a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 28 device may be manufactured and designed in accordance with relevant 29 safety and design principles. 30 § 399-bb. Turning indicators. A high-speed electric personal assistive 31 mobility device shall not be required to have a turning indicator. 32 § 399-cc. Bells. No person shall operate a high-speed electric 33 personal assistive mobility device unless it is equipped with, or the 34 operator is holding, a bell or other device capable of giving a signal 35 audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet, except that such 36 device shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon such 37 device any siren or whistle. 38 § 399-dd. Pedestrian safety standards. All high-speed electric 39 personal assistive mobility devices shall be manufactured and designed 40 to mitigate the risk of serious fatal injury in child and adult pedes- 41 trian collisions. 42 § 399-ee. Prohibited charging devices. No high-speed electric 43 personal assistive mobility device shall be sold or charged with a 44 universal charger. 45 § 399-ff. Operator's manual. Every high-speed electric personal assis- 46 tive mobility device shall come with an operation manual that may be 47 either printed or readily accessible via the internet. 48 § 399-gg. Law governing disputes over design, manufacture, pedestrian 49 safety, and failure to warn. All disputes related to the design, the 50 manufacture, pedestrian safety, and failure to warn shall be governed by 51 the state's common law on product liability and if no applicable common 52 law exists, then by statute. 53 § 6. Subdivision a of section 400 of the vehicle and traffic law, as 54 added by chapter 776 of the laws of 1959, is amended to read as follows: 
 A. 5446 3 1 a. Upon the registration, numbering and regulation of motor vehicles, 2 high-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices, and motorcy- 3 cles; and 4 § 7. Section 403-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap- 5 ter 61 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows: 6 § 403-a. Temporary indicia of registration. The commissioner may 7 promulgate regulations to provide for temporary indicia of registration 8 which shall permit a person to operate or park a motor vehicle, high- 9 speed electric personal assistive mobility device or trailer on the 10 public highways of this state without number plates or number decals 11 issued by the commissioner or validating stickers for a period not to 12 exceed fifteen days when the number plate or plates, number decal or 13 validating sticker for such motor vehicle, high-speed electric personal 14 assistive mobility device or trailer has been lost, stolen, mutilated or 15 destroyed. Such regulations may provide for the charging of a fee of not 16 more than three dollars for any issuance of temporary indicia of regis- 17 tration. Any person who operates or parks a motor vehicle, high-speed 18 electric personal assistive mobility device or trailer on the public 19 highways of this state, which motor vehicle, high-speed electric 20 personal assistive mobility device or trailer is in fact validly regis- 21 tered pursuant to the provisions of section four hundred one [or], four 22 hundred ten, or four hundred fourteen of this [chapter] title, without a 23 number plate or plates, number decal or validating sticker, and who has 24 complied with any such regulations promulgated by the commissioner under 25 this section shall not be deemed to be operating or parking a motor 26 vehicle, high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device or 27 trailer in violation of subdivision one or three of section four hundred 28 two or section four hundred three of this [chapter] title. Falsifying 29 any temporary indicia of registration prescribed by any regulation of 30 the commissioner issued pursuant to this section shall be a traffic 31 infraction. 32 § 8. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 33 15-B to read as follows: 34 ARTICLE 15-B 35 REGISTRATION OF HIGH-SPEED ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES 36 Section 414. Registration of high-speed electric personal assistive 37 mobility devices; fees; renewals. 38 414-a. High-speed electric personal assistive mobility device 39 safety program. 40 414-b. Distinctive number; form of number decals. 41 414-c. Financial security. 42 414-d. Punishment for violation. 43 § 414. Registration of high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 44 devices; fees; renewals. 1. Registration by owners. No high-speed elec- 45 tric personal assistive mobility devices shall be operated or driven 46 upon the public highways of this state with a posted speed limit of less 47 than forty miles per hour without first being registered in accordance 48 with the provisions of this article, except as otherwise expressly 49 provided in this chapter. Every owner of a high-speed electric personal 50 assistive mobility device which shall be operated or driven upon the 51 public highways of this state with a posted speed limit of less than 52 forty miles per hour shall, except as otherwise expressly provided, 53 cause to be filed, by mail or otherwise, in the office or a branch 54 office of the commissioner, or with an agent of the commissioner, 55 constituted as provided in this chapter, an application for registra- 56 tion, addressed to the commissioner, and on a blank to be prepared under 
 A. 5446 4 1 the direction of and furnished by the commissioner for that purpose, 2 containing: 3 (a) a brief description of the high-speed electric personal assistive 4 mobility device to be registered, including the name of the manufacturer 5 and factory number of such device; and 6 (b) the name, residence, including county and business address of the 7 owner of such high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device. 8 2. Registration record. Upon the receipt of a sufficient application 9 for registration, as provided in this article, the commissioner or agent 10 receiving it shall register such high-speed electric personal assistive 11 mobility device, and maintain a record of the registration of such high- 12 speed electric personal assistive mobility device under the distinctive 13 number assigned to such high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 14 device, as provided in this section, and the information in such record 15 may be obtained upon payment of the fees specified in section two 16 hundred two of this chapter. 17 3. Certificate of registration. (a) Upon the filing of such applica- 18 tion and the payment of the fee hereinafter provided, the commissioner 19 shall assign to such high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 20 device a distinctive number and, without expense to the applicant, issue 21 and deliver in such manner as the commissioner may select to the owner a 22 certificate of registration, in such form as the commissioner may 23 prescribe, and a number decal at a place within the state of New York 24 named by the applicant in such applicant's application. In the event of 25 the loss, mutilation or destruction of any certificate of registration 26 or number decal, the owner of a registered device may file such state- 27 ment and proof of the facts as the commissioner shall require, with a 28 fee of three dollars, in the office of the commissioner, or, unless and 29 until the commissioner shall otherwise direct, in the office of the 30 agent who issued the certificate or decal and the commissioner or the 31 commissioner's agent, as the case may be, shall issue a duplicate or 32 substitute. No application for registration shall be accepted unless the 33 applicant is at least eighteen years of age. 34 (b) Upon the issuance of a certificate of registration, the commis- 35 sioner shall provide the owner of such device with a notice regarding 36 the laws governing unidentifiable high-speed electric personal assistive 37 mobility device parts, in such form and manner as the commissioner may 38 prescribe. 39 4. Times for registration and reregistration. Registration applied for 40 and certificates issued under any application shall expire on a date 41 determined by the commissioner. Registration shall be renewed period- 42 ically in the same manner and upon payment of the same annual fee as 43 provided in this section for registration, to take effect and to expire 44 on dates to be determined by the commissioner. Provided, however, that 45 the commissioner shall have authority to fix the length of time for 46 which any such device which is registered without fee shall be regis- 47 tered. Provided further, however, that renewal of a registration may be 48 used preceding the expiration date of such registration including such 49 expiration date. 50 5. Registration fees. (a) The annual fee for registration or reregis- 51 tration of a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device 52 shall be seventeen dollars and fifty cents. 53 (b) Where a registration is made for a period of more or less than one 54 calendar year, the registration fee shall not be prorated. The 55 provisions hereof with respect to the payment of registration fees shall 56 not apply to high-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices 
 A. 5446 5 1 owned or controlled by the state, a city, county, village or town or any 2 of the departments thereof, or any school district or county extension 3 service association, but in other respects shall be applicable. 4 6. Fees in lieu of taxes. The registration fees imposed by this arti- 5 cle upon such devices shall be in lieu of all taxes, general or local, 6 to which high-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices may be 7 subject. 8 § 414-a. High-speed electric personal assistive mobility device safety 9 program. 1. The commissioner shall establish and administer a high-speed 10 electric personal assistive mobility device safety program which shall 11 consist of approved high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 12 device rider training courses, high-speed electric personal assistive 13 mobility device course instructor training, program promotion, and 14 public awareness. Approved rider training courses shall be approved by 15 the department. Approved courses shall include at least eight hours of 16 instruction in the actual operation of a high-speed electric personal 17 assistive mobility device. Monies from the high-speed electric personal 18 assistive mobility device safety fund established pursuant to section 19 ninety-two-kk of the state finance law shall be used for the establish- 20 ment and implementation of this program. 21 2. The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals for the coor- 22 dination of a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device 23 safety program which shall set requirements for the preparation of bids. 24 The commissioner shall enter into a contract, for a period of five 25 years, with a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device 26 rider training coordinating organization selected pursuant to such proc- 27 ess. The contract shall be awarded following the consideration of 28 factors which shall include, but not be limited to, the most favorable 29 financial advantage for the state, the greatest utility to the rider, 30 the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of such organization and its 31 compatibility with the existing rider education programs. The high-speed 32 electric personal assistive mobility device rider training coordination 33 organization shall be subject to periodic reporting requirements estab- 34 lished by the department outlining the administration and effectiveness 35 of its program and an itemization of all high-speed electric personal 36 assistive mobility device safety fund allocations. Such high-speed elec- 37 tric personal assistive mobility device rider training coordinating 38 organization shall have as its administrator an individual who has no 39 financial or proprietary interest in a high-speed electric personal 40 assistive mobility device training school or facility. 41 3. The high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device rider 42 training coordinating organization shall submit to the commissioner for 43 approval requests for advances pursuant to a contract and reimbursements 44 from the high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device safety 45 fund for equipment, operating and administrative costs and other 46 expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The 47 commissioner shall approve all such requests for expenditures that are 48 in accordance with the provisions of this section. 49 4. The commissioner shall annually file a report on expenditures from 50 the high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device safety fund, 51 established pursuant to section ninety-two-kk of the state finance law, 52 with the legislature. Such report shall include the name of the funded 53 high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device rider training 54 coordinating organization and the amount of funds distributed to it and 55 shall provide an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the funded 56 programs and any recommendations for programmatic changes. 
 A. 5446 6 1 § 414-b. Distinctive number; form of number decals. 1. No person shall 2 operate or drive a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 3 device on the public highways of this state with a posted speed limit of 4 less than forty miles per hour unless such high-speed electric personal 5 assistive mobility device shall have a distinctive number assigned to it 6 by the commissioner and a number decal issued by the commissioner with a 7 number corresponding to that of the certificate of registration conspic- 8 uously displayed on a conspicuous part of such high-speed electric 9 personal assistive mobility device which is readily visible. 10 2. Such number decals shall be of such material, form, design and 11 dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other 12 identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, 13 however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the 14 color of the number decals and that of the numerals or letters thereon, 15 and provided further that no high-speed electric personal assistive 16 mobility device shall display the number decals of more than one state 17 at a time, nor shall any decal be used other than those issued by the 18 commissioner. 19 3. No person shall operate or drive a high-speed electric personal 20 assistive mobility device upon the public highways of this state with a 21 posted speed limit of less than forty miles per hour having displayed 22 thereon a number decal not proper for such high-speed electric personal 23 assistive mobility device under the provisions of this chapter and, upon 24 conviction for this offense, the number decal shall be destroyed with 25 proof of such destruction submitted to the court for delivery to the 26 commissioner. 27 4. No person shall knowingly authorize or permit a number decal issued 28 for a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device owned and 29 registered by such person to be displayed on any high-speed electric 30 personal assistive mobility device other than a high-speed electric 31 personal assistive mobility device to which such number decal has been 32 assigned by the commissioner. 33 § 414-c. Financial security. No evidence of financial security shall 34 be required to register a high-speed electric personal assistive mobili- 35 ty device. 36 § 414-d. Punishment for violation. The violation of any of the 37 provisions of section four hundred fourteen of this article shall be 38 punishable by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred 39 dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days, or by both 40 such fine and imprisonment except, if the violation consists of failure 41 to renew a registration which was valid within sixty days, the fine 42 shall be not less than twenty-five dollars. A violation of any of the 43 provisions of section four hundred fourteen-b of this article shall be 44 punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than two 45 hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days, or by 46 both such fine and imprisonment. 47 § 9. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 48 34-E to read as follows: 49 ARTICLE 34-E 50 OPERATION OF HIGH-SPEED ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES 51 Section 1295. Traffic laws apply to persons operating high-speed elec- 52 tric personal assistive mobility devices. 53 1296. Riding on high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 54 device. 55 1297. Operating high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 56 device on highways laned for traffic. 
 A. 5446 7 1 1298. Clinging to other vehicles. 2 § 1295. Traffic laws apply to persons operating high-speed electric 3 personal assistive mobility devices. Every person operating a high-speed 4 electric personal assistive mobility device shall be granted all of the 5 rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driv- 6 er of any other vehicle under this title, except as to special regu- 7 lations in this article and except as to those provisions of this title 8 which by their nature can have no application. 9 § 1296. Riding on high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 10 device. 1. A person operating a high-speed electric personal assistive 11 mobility device shall ride only in the manner prescribed by the manufac- 12 turer of such device, and such rider shall not carry any other person 13 nor shall any other person ride on a high-speed electric personal assis- 14 tive mobility device. 15 2. No person shall operate a high-speed electric personal assistive 16 mobility device while carrying any package, bundle or other article 17 which prevents such person from operating such device in the manner 18 prescribed by the manufacturer. 19 3. No person shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a 20 position that will interfere with the operation of control of the high- 21 speed electric personal assistive mobility device or the view of the 22 operator. 23 § 1297. Operating high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 24 device on highways laned for traffic. 1. All high-speed electric 25 personal assistive mobility devices are entitled to full use of a lane 26 and no motor vehicle or high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 27 device shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any high-speed 28 electric personal assistive mobility device of the full use of a lane. 29 However, this section shall not be construed to prevent high-speed elec- 30 tric personal assistive mobility device from being operated two abreast 31 in a single lane. 32 2. The operator of a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 33 device shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the 34 vehicle being overtaken. 35 3. No person shall operate a high-speed electric personal assistive 36 mobility device between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or 37 rows of vehicles. 38 4. High-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices shall not 39 be operated more than two abreast in a single lane. 40 5. No high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device shall be 41 operated on a highway with a posted speed limit of greater than forty 42 miles per hour. 43 6. Every high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device when 44 in use during the period from one-half hour after sunset to one-half 45 hour before sunrise shall be equipped with a light on the front which 46 shall emit a white light visible during hours of darkness from a 47 distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with an addi- 48 tional red light visible to the rear for three hundred feet. At least 49 one of these lights shall be visible for two hundred feet from each 50 side. 51 7. Every high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device shall 52 be equipped with a system that enables the operator to bring the device 53 to a controlled stop. 54 § 1298. Clinging to other vehicles. No person riding upon a high-speed 55 electric personal assistive mobility device shall attach themself or the 
 A. 5446 8 1 high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device to any other 2 vehicle or streetcar on a highway. 3 § 10. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 92-kk 4 to read as follows: 5 § 92-kk. High-speed electric personal assistive mobility device safety 6 fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the state 7 comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund 8 to be known as the "high-speed electric personal assistive mobility 9 device safety fund". 10 2. Moneys of the fund, following appropriation by the legislature, 11 shall be made available to the department of motor vehicles only for the 12 administration and implementation of the high-speed electric personal 13 assistive mobility device safety program established pursuant to section 14 four hundred fourteen-a of the vehicle and traffic law. No more than ten 15 percent of the annual receipts of the fund may be used for administra- 16 tive and personnel costs of the department needed to implement and 17 administer the program. Remaining moneys of the fund shall be used for 18 the administrative and operating expenses of the high-speed electric 19 personal assistive mobility device rider training coordinating organiza- 20 tion designated under section four hundred fourteen-a of the vehicle and 21 traffic law. 22 3. The moneys of the fund shall be paid out on the audit and warrant 23 of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner 24 of motor vehicles, including advances of funds pursuant to a contract to 25 a high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device rider training 26 coordinating organization. At the end of each year any moneys remaining 27 in the fund shall be retained in the fund and shall not revert to the 28 general fund. The interest and income earned on money in the fund, after 29 deducting any applicable charges, shall be credited to the fund. 30 § 11. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 501 of the vehicle and 31 traffic law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (ix) to read as 32 follows: 33 (ix) Class E1. Such license shall be valid to operate any high-speed 34 electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in section one 35 hundred fourteen-f of this chapter. 36 § 12. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 502 of the vehicle and 37 traffic law, as amended by chapter 618 of the laws of 2021, is amended 38 to read as follows: 39 (b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision an appli- 40 cant for a class A, B, C [or], E or E1 license shall be at least eigh- 41 teen years of age. 42 § 13. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 502 of the vehicle and 43 traffic law, as amended by chapter 520 of the laws of 1991, is amended 44 to read as follows: 45 (b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision an appli- 46 cant for a class B, C [or], E or E1 license shall be at least eighteen 47 years of age. 48 § 14. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) and paragraphs (b), (c-3) and 49 (d) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, 50 subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) as amended by chap- 51 ter 379 of the laws of 2022, paragraph (c-3) as added by chapter 355 of 52 the laws of 2017 and paragraph (d) as amended by chapter 477 of the laws 53 of 2024, are amended to read as follows: 54 (i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the 55 applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence 56 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the 
 A. 5446 9 1 laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat- 2 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", "Work Zone Safety" 3 awareness, "Motorcycle and High-Speed Electric Personal Assistive Mobil- 4 ity Device Safety" awareness and "Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety" 5 awareness as defined by the commissioner, "School Bus Safety" awareness, 6 the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding with a 7 parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehi- 8 cle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the 9 ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols and such other 10 matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satisfactorily 11 complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less than four 12 hours and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom driver 13 training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent thereof. Such 14 test shall include at least seven written questions concerning the 15 effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to 16 operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences result- 17 ing from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chap- 18 ter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influ- 19 ence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written 20 questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the abil- 21 ity of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial 22 consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering with 23 the lawful conduct of another person legally using the roadway. Such 24 test shall include one or more questions concerning the potential 25 dangers to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe operation of 26 a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may include one or more ques- 27 tions concerning motorcycle safety. Such test may include one or more 28 questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding 29 with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section eleven 30 hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such test may include one or more 31 questions concerning school bus safety. Such test may include one or 32 more questions concerning pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Such test 33 shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner shall cause 34 the applicant to take a vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon 35 passage of the vision test, the application may be accepted and the 36 application fee shall be payable. 37 (b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in para- 38 graph (a) of this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug 39 education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a 40 "Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of this 41 subdivision, a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described in 42 paragraph (c-2) of this subdivision, a "Motorcycle and High-Speed Elec- 43 tric Personal Assistive Mobility Device Safety" awareness component as 44 described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision, a "School Bus Safety" 45 awareness component as described in paragraph (c-4) of this subdivision, 46 and a "Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety" awareness component as described 47 in paragraph (c-5) of this subdivision, the commissioner shall cause the 48 applicant to take a road test in a representative vehicle of a type 49 prescribed by the commissioner which shall be appropriate to the type of 50 license for which application is made, except that the commissioner may 51 waive the road test requirements for certain classes of applicants. 52 Provided, however, that the term "representative vehicle" shall not 53 include a three-wheeled motor vehicle that has two wheels situated in 54 the front and one wheel in the rear, has a steering mechanism and seat- 55 ing which does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride, is 56 equipped with safety belts for all occupants and is manufactured to 
 A. 5446 10 1 comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles 2 including, but not limited to, 49 C.F.R. part 571. The commissioner 3 shall have the power to establish a program to allow persons other than 4 employees of the department to conduct road tests in representative 5 vehicles when such tests are required for applicants to obtain a class 6 A, B or C license. If [she] the commissioner chooses to do so, [she] the 7 commissioner shall set forth [her] the commissioner's reasons in writing 8 and conduct a public hearing on the matter. [She] The commissioner shall 9 only establish such a program after holding the public hearing. 10 (c-3) "Motorcycle and High-Speed Electric Personal Assistive Mobility 11 Device Safety" awareness component. The commissioner shall provide in 12 the pre-licensing course, set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivi- 13 sion, a mandatory component in "Motorcycle and High-Speed Electric 14 Personal Assistive Mobility Device Safety" awareness education as a 15 prerequisite for obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle. The 16 purpose of the component is to educate prospective licensees on the 17 potential dangers to persons operating motorcycles and high-speed elec- 18 tric assistive mobility devices on the roadway. 19 (d) (i) The commissioner shall make available for distribution upon 20 registration at each location where the pre-licensing course will be 21 given (1) instructional handbooks outlining the content of the entire 22 curriculum of the pre-licensing course including the information 23 required to be included in the course pursuant to paragraphs (c), (c-1), 24 (c-2), (c-3), (c-4) and (c-5) of this subdivision, and (2) information 25 as to how a person may register in the New York state organ and tissue 26 donor registry under section forty-three hundred ten of the public 27 health law. 28 (ii) The commissioner shall also provide for the additional training 29 of the instructors necessary for the competent instruction of the alco- 30 hol and drug education, "Road Rage" awareness, "Work Zone Safety" aware- 31 ness, "Motorcycle and High-Speed Electric Personal Assistive Mobility 32 Device Safety" awareness, "School Bus Safety" awareness and "Pedestrian 33 and Bicyclist Safety" awareness subject matters of the pre-licensing 34 course. 35 § 15. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b), subparagraph (iii) of para- 36 graph (c) and paragraph (c-1) of subdivision 2 of section 503 of the 37 vehicle and traffic law, subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) and subpara- 38 graph (iii) of paragraph (c) as amended by section 1 of part F of chap- 39 ter 59 of the laws of 2009 and paragraph (c-1) as amended by section 3 40 of part UU of chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, are amended to read as 41 follows: 42 (ii) Upon passage of the knowledge test required to obtain a learner's 43 permit, the applicant for a class C license which does not have an H, P 44 or X endorsement or a class E license shall be required to pay six 45 dollars and twenty-five cents for each six months or portion thereof of 46 the period of validity of a learner's permit or license which is or may 47 be issued, and an applicant for a class D, DJ, E1, M or MJ license shall 48 be required to pay three dollars and twenty-five cents for each six 49 months or portion thereof of the period of validity of a learner's 50 permit or license which is or may be issued. No additional fee shall be 51 required of any such applicant to take up to two road tests. Such road 52 test must be passed before a license will be issued. 53 (iii) For a class D, DJ, E1, M or MJ license, three dollars and twen- 54 ty-five cents, for each six months or portion thereof. 55 (c-1) In addition to the fees established in paragraphs (b) and (c) of 56 this subdivision, a fee of fifty cents for each six months or portion 
 A. 5446 11 1 thereof of the period of validity shall be paid upon the issuance of any 2 permit, license or renewal of a license which is valid for the operation 3 of a motorcycle, except a limited use motorcycle, or a high-speed elec- 4 tric personal assistive mobility device. 5 § 16. Subdivisions 2 and 4 of section 506 of the vehicle and traffic 6 law, as added by chapter 780 of the laws of 1972, are amended to read as 7 follows: 8 2. The commissioner may require every person holding a license issued 9 pursuant to this article to submit to such an examination as shall be 10 determined by [him] the commissioner to be appropriate if such person 11 has been involved in three accidents while driving a motor vehicle, 12 high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device, or motorcycle 13 within a period of eighteen months, if such accidents were required to 14 be reported by section six hundred five of this chapter. 15 4. Any person holding a license issued pursuant to this chapter who 16 suffers permanent loss of use of one or both hands or arms or of one or 17 both feet or legs, or one eye shall, before operating any motor vehicle, 18 high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device, or motorcycle 19 make report thereof to the commissioner, who shall take such reasonable 20 action as may be proper under the provisions of this section. 21 § 17. Subdivision (c) of section 605 of the vehicle and traffic law, 22 as amended by chapter 196 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as 23 follows: 24 (c) The report required by this section shall be made in such form and 25 number as the commissioner may prescribe. Such report shall include 26 information on the width and length of trucks, tractors, trailers and 27 semitrailers, which are in excess of ninety-five inches in width or 28 thirty-four feet in length and which are involved in such accidents, 29 whether such accident took place in a work area and whether it was being 30 operated with an overweight or over dimension permit. Such report shall 31 distinctly indicate and include information as to whether the inflatable 32 restraint system inflated and deployed. Such report shall include infor- 33 mation on the type or types of vehicles involved, including passenger 34 motor vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, limited use 35 motorcycles, off-highway motorcycles, high-speed electric personal 36 assistive mobility devices, electric scooters, bicycles with electric 37 assist, and/or bicycles. 38 § 18. Section 1604 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap- 39 ter 247 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows: 40 § 1604. Local ordinances prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in 41 this chapter, local authorities shall have no power to pass, enforce or 42 maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation requiring from any owner of a 43 motor vehicle, high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device, 44 or motorcycle, or from any operator or chauffeur to whom this chapter is 45 applicable, any tax, fee, license or permit for the use of the public 46 highways, or excluding any such owner, operator or chauffeur from the 47 free use of such public highways, excepting such driveway, speedway or 48 road as has been or may be expressly set apart by law for the exclusive 49 use of horses and light carriages, or in any other way restricting motor 50 vehicles, high-speed electric personal assistive mobility devices, or 51 motorcycles or their speed upon or use of the public highways; or 52 setting aside for any given time a specified public highway or any part 53 thereof constructed in whole or in part at the expense of the state for 54 exhibitions, shows, exercises, entertainments or meetings; and no ordi- 55 nance, rule or regulation contrary to or in any wise inconsistent with 
 A. 5446 12 1 the provisions of this chapter, now in force or hereafter enacted shall 2 have any effect. 3 Provided, however, that the power given to local authorities to 4 license and regulate vehicles offered to the public for hire, and proc- 5 essions, assemblages or parades in the streets or public places, and all 6 ordinances, rules and regulations which may have been or which may be 7 enacted in pursuance of such powers shall remain in full force and 8 effect. 9 § 19. Subdivision 1 of section 806-a of the education law, as amended 10 by chapter 644 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows: 11 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all school districts 12 providing instruction in driver education shall include in such instruc- 13 tion: (a) a driver safety component with an emphasis on the effects of 14 alcohol and drug use, (b) instruction in motorcycle and high-speed elec- 15 tric personal assistive mobility device safety awareness. The commis- 16 sioner, upon approval by the commissioner of motor vehicles, shall 17 establish a curriculum for the alcohol and drug education component 18 which shall include but not be limited to: instruction describing the 19 hazards of driving while impaired or intoxicated; the penalties for 20 alcohol related motor vehicle violations including sanctions set forth 21 in the penal law that apply to homicides and assaults arising out of the 22 operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated and those sanctions set 23 forth in the vehicle and traffic law relating to driving while intoxi- 24 cated; and the medical, biological and physiological effects of the 25 consumption of alcohol and their impact on the operation of a motor 26 vehicle. 27 § 20. Subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 of section 420 of the vehicle 28 and traffic law, subdivisions 1 and 5 as amended by chapter 394 of the 29 laws of 1979, subdivision 2 as amended by section 2 of part G of chapter 30 59 of the laws of 2009, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 402 of the 31 laws of 1990, subdivision 7 as amended by chapter 139 of the laws of 32 1988, and subdivision 8 as amended by section 26 of part G of chapter 59 33 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows: 34 1. Upon the transfer of ownership or the destruction of a motor vehi- 35 cle, motorcycle, high-speed electric personal assistive mobility device 36 or trailer, its registration shall expire; and the seller, or the owner 37 in case of destruction, shall remove the number plates from the vehicle. 38 For purposes of this section, a high-speed electric personal assistive 39 mobility device shall be considered a "vehicle" and such decals required 40 to be affixed to them shall be considered "plates" except when a 41 provision containing the terms "vehicle" or "plate" relates to a dealer. 42 2. Such seller or owner may, however, register another vehicle and use 43 said number plates thereon, if appropriate, upon making application for 44 such registration, paying a transfer fee of ten dollars, and paying the 45 proportional excess, if any, of the annual fee for registering the 46 second vehicle over the annual fee for registering the first vehicle for 47 each day or fraction thereof constituting the unexpired registration 48 period. If the number plates of the first vehicle are not appropriate 49 for the second vehicle, the commissioner or [his or her] the commission- 50 er's agent shall, upon the surrender of such number plates, furnish 51 appropriate number plates. 52 3. Provided, however, that upon the death of an owner of a registered 53 motor vehicle, motorcycle, high-speed electric personal assistive mobil- 54 ity device or trailer, its registration shall, unless the vehicle is 55 destroyed, be deemed to continue in force as a valid registration until 56 the end of the year or until the ownership of such vehicle is trans- 
 A. 5446 13 1 ferred by the executor or administrator of the estate of such owner or 2 by the distributees of [his] such owner's personal property, whichever 3 occurs first. If the ownership of such vehicle is transferred as exempt 4 property under section 5-3.1 of the estates, powers and trusts law to 5 the surviving spouse of the owner, the fee for the initial registration 6 issued to such surviving spouse shall be the fee for such registration 7 reduced by the amount of the fee remaining for the unexpired term of the 8 registration issued to the deceased. 9 5. Provided, further, that a holder of manufacturers' and dealers' 10 registration having a motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer registered in 11 [his or its] such holder's name under the provisions of this chapter 12 may, if such vehicle is placed in stock for sale, also remove the number 13 plates and be entitled to the same privileges as though the vehicle had 14 been sold or destroyed. 15 7. Where a dealer having registration under the provisions of section 16 four hundred fifteen of this chapter sells or trades a vehicle to a 17 person who has another vehicle duly registered under this chapter, or 18 who had another vehicle previously so registered, and the registration 19 of such vehicle is eligible for transfer to the purchased vehicle under 20 the provisions of this section and the number plates of the first vehi- 21 cle are appropriate, such dealer may issue on any date on which the 22 registration of a motor vehicle may be used a temporary certificate of 23 registration of the second vehicle under which such vehicle may be oper- 24 ated as a duly registered vehicle for a period of thirty days from the 25 date of issuance, other provisions of this chapter notwithstanding. 26 Such temporary certificate of registration may be extended by the 27 commissioner for an additional thirty days, except that in no event 28 shall any such temporary certificate of registration be valid after the 29 expiration date of the registration for the first vehicle. Such certif- 30 icate shall be issued upon a form furnished by the commissioner and 31 shall be executed in such manner as [he] the commissioner shall 32 prescribe. 33 8. The owner of a registered motor vehicle, motorcycle, high-speed 34 electric personal assistive mobility device or trailer may transfer the 35 registration and, if appropriate, the number plates thereof to another 36 vehicle owned by [him or her] such owner upon making application for 37 such transfer, paying a transfer fee of ten dollars, and paying the 38 proportionate excess, if any, of the annual fee for registering the 39 second vehicle over the annual fee for registering the first vehicle for 40 each day or fraction thereof constituting the unexpired registration 41 period, provided, however, that the registration and number plates for 42 the second vehicle, if such vehicle is registered in this state, are 43 either surrendered to the commissioner or transferred to another vehicle 44 as provided herein. If the number plates of the first vehicle are not 45 appropriate for the second vehicle, the commissioner or [his or her] the 46 commissioner's agent shall, upon the surrender of such number plates, 47 furnish appropriate number plates. Whenever a total fee for reregistra- 48 tion prescribed in this section shall amount to a fee other than a whole 49 dollar amount, the fee required to be paid shall be rounded to the near- 50 est twenty-five cents. 51 § 21. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a 52 law; provided, however that the amendments to paragraph (b) of subdivi- 53 sion 2 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law made by section 54 twelve of this act shall be subject to the repeal and reversion of such 55 paragraph pursuant to section 4 of chapter 618 of the laws of 2021, as 56 amended, when upon such date the provisions of section thirteen of this 
 A. 5446 14 1 act shall take effect; provided, further, that if section 1 of chapter 2 477 of the laws of 2024 has not taken effect than the amendments to 3 paragraph (d) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic 4 law, made by section fourteen of this act shall take effect on the same 5 date and in the same manner as section 1 of chapter 477 of the laws of 6 2024, takes effect; and provided, further, that if section 4 of chapter 7 196 of the laws of 2024 has not taken effect than the amendments to 8 subdivision (c) of section 605 of the vehicle and traffic law made by 9 section seventeen of this act shall take effect on the same date and in 10 the same manner as section 4 of chapter 196 of the laws of 2024, takes 11 effect.