Senate Transportation Committee reports 14 bills, holds one from agenda

Jeremy Cooney, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation, convened the committee and confirmed a quorum for what he called, "our last committee meeting of this legislative session." The panel considered 15 bills: one (S.4622) was removed from the published agenda with the sponsor's approval and 14 measures were reported out of committee.

Why it matters: The bills advance a mix of traffic-safety changes, consumer-disclosure measures, local camera programs and ceremonial highway dedications. Several measures amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law and could change enforcement, fines or vehicle registration rules if passed by the full Senate and the Assembly and signed by the governor.

Most consequential items advanced included two related enforcement measures by Chair Cooney that would (1) authorize suspension of registration for vehicles repeatedly documented by photo speed violation monitoring systems in highway construction or maintenance work areas (S.4646A) and (2) expand fines for failure to exercise due care and to move over when approaching parked, stopped or standing motor vehicles on the shoulder (S.4649A). Committee discussion on S.4649A included a question about whether the bill "bring[s] new vehicles in," and an exchange clarifying that the bill expands the move-over requirement to the situations described in the bill language.

The committee also reported bills to: amend acceptable light transmittance standards for vehicle window tint (S.4572); increase penalties for leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in the death of a minor (S.8018); require disclosure of tariff cost estimates on automobile sales to improve…