Bill Text: NY A06189 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to defining and regulating electric assisted bicycles.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to transportation [A06189 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A06189-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6189 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 4, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to electric assisted bicycles The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new 2 section 102-c to read as follows: 3 § 102-c. Electric assisted bicycle. A bicycle with two or three wheels 4 which has a saddle and fully operative pedals for human propulsion and 5 also has an electric motor. The electric assisted bicycle's electric 6 motor shall: have a power output of less than seven hundred fifty watts; 7 have a maximum speed of less than twenty miles per hour on a paved level 8 surface when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator 9 who weighs one hundred seventy pounds; and be incapable of further 10 increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel 11 the device at or more than twenty miles per hour. 12 § 2. The article heading of article 15 of the vehicle and traffic law 13 is amended to read as follows: 14 REGISTRATION OF MOTORCYCLES AND ELECTRIC ASSISTED BICYCLES 15 § 3. Section 410 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 16 459 of the laws of 1970, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 466 of the 17 laws of 2013, subdivision 4 as amended by chapter 137 of the laws of 18 1989, subdivision 5 as amended by chapter 435 of the laws of 1997, and 19 paragraph a of subdivision 5 as amended by section 2 of part UU of chap- 20 ter 59 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows: 21 § 410. Registration of motorcycles and electric assisted bicycles; 22 fees; renewals. 1. Registration by owners. No motorcycles or electric 23 assisted bicycles shall be operated or driven upon the public highways 24 of this state without first being registered in accordance with the EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD10264-01-9A. 6189 2 1 provisions of this article, except as otherwise expressly provided in 2 this chapter. 3 Every owner of a motorcycle or an electric assisted bicycle which 4 shall be operated or driven upon the public highways of this state 5 shall, except as otherwise expressly provided, cause to be filed, by 6 mail or otherwise, in the office or a branch office of the commissioner, 7 or with an agent of the commissioner, constituted as provided in this 8 chapter, an application for registration, addressed to the commissioner, 9 and on a blank to be prepared under the direction of and furnished by 10 the commissioner for that purpose, containing: (a) A brief description 11 of the motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle to be registered, includ- 12 ing the name of the manufacturer and factory number of such vehicle; (b) 13 the name, residence, including county and business address of the owner 14 of such motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle. 15 2. Registration record. Upon the receipt of a sufficient application 16 for registration, as provided in this article, the commissioner or agent 17 receiving it shall register such motorcycle or electric assisted 18 bicycle, and maintain a record of the registration of such motorcycle or 19 electric assisted bicycle under the distinctive number assigned to such 20 motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle, as provided in this section, 21 and the information in such record may be obtained upon payment of the 22 fees specified in section two hundred two of this chapter. 23 3. Certificate of registration. a. Upon the filing of such application 24 and the payment of the fee hereinafter provided, the commissioner shall 25 assign to such motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle a distinctive 26 number and, without expense to the applicant, issue and deliver in such 27 manner as the commissioner may select to the owner a certificate of 28 registration, in such form as the commissioner may prescribe, and a 29 number plate at a place within the state of New York named by the appli- 30 cant in his application. In the event of the loss, mutilation or 31 destruction of any certificate of registration or number plate, the 32 owner of a registered vehicle may file such statement and proof of the 33 facts as the commissioner shall require, with a fee of three dollars, in 34 the office of the commissioner, or, unless and until the commissioner 35 shall otherwise direct, in the office of the agent who issued the 36 certificate or plate and the commissioner or his agent, as the case may 37 be, shall issue a duplicate or substitute. No application for registra- 38 tion shall be accepted unless the applicant is at least sixteen years of 39 age. 40 b. Upon the issuance of a certificate of registration, the commission- 41 er shall provide the owner of such vehicle with a notice regarding the 42 laws governing unidentifiable motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle 43 parts, in such form and manner as the commissioner may prescribe. 44 4. Times for registration and reregistration. Registration applied for 45 and certificates issued under any application shall expire on a date 46 determined by the commissioner. Registration shall be renewed period- 47 ically in the same manner and upon payment of the same annual fee as 48 provided in this section for registration, to take effect and to expire 49 on dates to be determined by the commissioner. Provided, however, that 50 the commissioner shall have authority to fix the length of time for 51 which any such vehicle which is registered without fee shall be regis- 52 tered. Provided further, however, that renewal of a registration may be 53 used preceding the expiration date of such registration including such 54 expiration date. 55 5. Registration fees. a. The annual fee for registration or reregis- 56 tration of a motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle shall be elevenA. 6189 3 1 dollars and fifty cents. Beginning April first, nineteen hundred nine- 2 ty-eight the annual fee for registration or reregistration of a motorcy- 3 cle or electric assisted bicycle shall be seventeen dollars and fifty 4 cents. 5 b. Where a registration is made for a period of more or less than one 6 calendar year, the registration fee shall not be prorated. The 7 provisions hereof with respect to the payment of registration fees shall 8 not apply to motorcycles or electric assisted bicycles owned or 9 controlled by the state, a city, county, village or town or any of the 10 departments thereof, or any school district or county extension service 11 association, but in other respects shall be applicable. 12 6. Fees in lieu of taxes. The registration fees imposed by this arti- 13 cle upon such vehicles shall be in lieu of all taxes, general or local, 14 to which motorcycles or electric assisted bicycles may be subject. 15 7. "Motorcycle" as used in this section shall mean a motorcycle as 16 defined by section one hundred twenty-three of this chapter. 17 8. "Electric assisted bicycle" as used in this section shall mean an 18 electric assisted bicycle as defined by section one hundred two-c of 19 this chapter. 20 § 4. Section 411 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to read as 21 follows: 22 § 411. Distinctive number; form of number plates. 1. No person shall 23 operate or drive a motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle on the public 24 highways of this state unless such motorcycle or electric assisted bicy- 25 cle shall have a distinctive number assigned to it by the commissioner 26 and a number plate issued by the commissioner with a number correspond- 27 ing to that of the certificate of registration conspicuously displayed 28 on the rear of such motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle, securely 29 fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging. 30 2. Such number plates shall be of such material, form, design and 31 dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other 32 identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, 33 however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the 34 color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon, 35 and provided further that no motorcycle or electric assisted bicycles 36 shall display the number plates of more than one state at a time, nor 37 shall any plate be used other than those issued by the commissioner. 38 3. No person shall operate or drive a motorcycle or electric assisted 39 bicycle upon the public highways of this state having displayed thereon 40 a number plate not proper for such motorcycle or electric assisted 41 bicycle under the provisions of this chapter and, upon conviction for 42 this offense, the number plate shall be surrendered to the court for 43 delivery to the commissioner. 44 4. No person shall knowingly authorize or permit a number plate issued 45 for a motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle owned and registered by 46 him to be displayed on any motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle 47 other than a motorcycle or electric assisted bicycle to which such 48 number plate has been assigned by the commissioner, or upon which such 49 number plate may legally be displayed under a temporary certificate of 50 registration issued by a dealer under the provisions of section four 51 hundred twenty of this [chapter] title. 52 § 5. Section 411-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 53 962 of the laws of 1981, subdivision 1 as amended by section 17 of part 54 G of chapter 59 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows: 55 § 411-a. Issuance of special number plates. 1. The commissioner may 56 issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner asA. 6189 4 1 other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special 2 number plates shall be issued only upon payment of an annual service 3 charge of eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents in addition to the 4 regular fee prescribed by section four hundred ten of this article. 5 Application for special number plates shall be made in accordance with 6 regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to issuance of 7 such number plates. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this 8 section, the difference collected between the service charge set forth 9 in this subdivision in effect on and after September first, two thousand 10 nine and the service charge set forth in this subdivision in effect 11 prior to such date shall be deposited to the credit of the dedicated 12 highway and bridge trust fund. 13 2. For purposes of this section, a special number plate shall be a 14 plate which contains not more than six letters, numerals or any combina- 15 tion thereof and which is reserved by the commissioner for issuance in 16 accordance with the provisions of this section, or a plate reserved for 17 issuance in a series for motorcycles or electric assisted bicycles owned 18 by public officers, physicians, accredited representatives of the press 19 or other groups. In issuing special number plates the commissioner shall 20 give those applicants who held a special number plate at the time of the 21 enactment of this section the right to retain such special number plate 22 upon the payment of the annual service charge of fifteen dollars. 23 Provided, however, that such right of retention shall apply only to the 24 first renewal of the registration of such special number plate following 25 the enactment of this section. 26 3. This section shall not apply to any plates in a series reserved in 27 the public interest for purposes of facilitating identification of state 28 and municipal motorcycles or electric assisted bicycles and those owned 29 by members of international governmental organizations or any other 30 vehicles which are exempt from the payment of registration fees, nor to 31 plates or series of plates assigned by the commissioner for issuance by 32 county clerks. 33 4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the 34 commissioner to issue a special number plate or plates. 35 § 6. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 36 34-D to read as follows: 37 ARTICLE 34-D 38 OPERATION OF ELECTRIC ASSISTED BICYCLES 39 Section 1280. Traffic laws apply to persons operating electric assisted 40 bicycles. 41 1281. Operating electric assisted bicycles. 42 1282. Operating electric assisted bicycles on roadways laned for 43 traffic. 44 1283. Clinging to other vehicles. 45 1284. Equipment and manufacturing requirements. 46 1285. Directional signals. 47 1286. Electric assisted bicycles safety course. 48 1287. Leaving the scene of an incident involving an electric 49 assisted bicycle without reporting. 50 1288. Insurance. 51 § 1280. Traffic laws apply to persons operating electric assisted 52 bicycles. Every person operating an electric assisted bicycle shall be 53 granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties 54 applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this title, exceptA. 6189 5 1 as to special regulations in this article and except as to those 2 provisions of this title which by their nature can have no application. 3 § 1281. Operating electric assisted bicycles. 1. No person less than 4 sixteen years of age shall operate an electric assisted bicycle. 5 2. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle unless such 6 person has a valid New York state driver's license or learner's permit 7 pursuant to section five hundred one of this chapter. 8 3. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle unless such 9 person is wearing a helmet meeting standards established by the commis- 10 sioner. For the purposes of this subdivision, wearing a helmet means 11 having a helmet of good fit fastened securely on the head of such wearer 12 with the helmet straps securely fastened. 13 4. A person operating an electric assisted bicycle shall ride only 14 upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator 15 shall not carry any other person on an electric assisted bicycle. 16 5. A person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle only while 17 sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of 18 the electric assisted bicycle. 19 6. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle while carrying 20 any package, bundle or other article which prevents him or her from 21 keeping both hands on the handlebars. 22 7. (a) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision one or 23 two of this section shall pay a civil fine not to exceed fifty dollars. 24 (b) The court shall waive any fine for which a person who violates the 25 provisions of subdivision two of this section would be liable if such 26 person supplies the court with proof that between the date of violation 27 and the appearance date for such violation such person purchased or 28 rented a helmet. 29 (c) The court may waive any fine for which a person who violates the 30 provisions of subdivision two of this section would be liable if the 31 court finds that due to reasons of economic hardship such person was 32 unable to purchase a helmet from the statewide in-line skate and bicycle 33 helmet distribution program or a local distribution program. 34 8. A police officer shall only issue a summons for a violation of 35 subdivision one or two of this section by a person less than sixteen 36 years of age to the parent or guardian of such person if the violation 37 by such person occurs in the presence of such person's parent or guardi- 38 an and where such parent or guardian is eighteen years of age or more. 39 Such summons shall only be issued to such parent or guardian, and shall 40 not be issued to the person less than sixteen years of age. 41 § 1282. Operating electric assisted bicycles on roadways laned for 42 traffic. 1. All electric assisted bicycles are entitled to full use of a 43 lane and no motor vehicle or motorcycle shall be driven in such a manner 44 as to deprive any electric assisted bicycle of the full use of a lane. 45 However, this section shall not be construed to prevent electric 46 assisted bicycles from being operated two abreast in a single lane. 47 2. The operator of an electric assisted bicycle shall not overtake and 48 pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. 49 3. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle between lanes 50 of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. 51 4. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle on a bicycle 52 or in-line skate lane or path or near the right hand curb, edge or 53 shoulder of the roadway. 54 5. Electric assisted bicycles shall not be operated more than two 55 abreast in a single lane.A. 6189 6 1 § 1283. Clinging to other vehicles. No person operating an electric 2 assisted bicycle shall attach himself or herself or the electric 3 assisted bicycle to any other vehicle or streetcar on a roadway. 4 § 1284. Equipment and manufacturing requirements. 1. An electric 5 assisted bicycle shall meet the equipment and manufacturing requirements 6 for bicycles adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 7 C.F.R. 1512.1, et seq.) or the requirements adopted by the National 8 Highway Traffic Safety Administration (49 C.F.R. 561.1, et seq.) in 9 accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 10 1966 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1381, et seq.) for motor driven cycles. 11 2. (a) Every electric assisted bicycle, driven upon the public high- 12 ways of this state shall be provided with one red to amber stop lamp and 13 shall, whenever such electric assisted bicycle is being operated upon 14 the public highways of the state, display one lighted lamp in front and 15 one on the rear; and in all cases the lamps on an electric assisted 16 bicycle shall include a red light visible from the rear. The rays of 17 such rear lamp shall shine upon the number plate carried on the rear of 18 such electric assisted bicycle in such manner as to render the numerals 19 thereon visible for at least fifty feet in the direction from which the 20 electric assisted bicycle is proceeding. The light of the front lamp or 21 lamps shall be visible at least two hundred feet in the direction in 22 which the electric assisted bicycle is proceeding. 23 (b) Driving an electric assisted bicycle without the display of one 24 lighted lamp in front and one on the rear, during a period other than 25 from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, shall 26 not be deemed to constitute negligence or contributory negligence in any 27 action or proceeding arising out of the operation of such electric 28 assisted bicycle. 29 (c) No head lamp shall be used upon any electric assisted bicycle 30 operated upon the public highways of the state, unless such lamp is 31 approved by the commissioner or is equipped with a lens or other device 32 approved by the commissioner. Every such head lamp, lens or other 33 device shall be applied and adjusted in accordance with the requirements 34 of the certificate approving the use thereof. Every such head lamp shall 35 be firmly and substantially mounted on the electric assisted bicycle in 36 such manner as to allow the lamp to be properly and readily adjusted. 37 Each reflector which is used as a part of such head lamp shall have a 38 polished silver or glass reflecting surface, or a reflecting surface 39 which gives candle power intensity meeting the requirements of rules and 40 regulations established by the commissioner, and shall be substantially 41 free from dents, rust and other imperfections. The operator of every 42 electric assisted bicycle shall permit any policeman, police officer or 43 other person exercising police powers to inspect the equipment of such 44 motorcycle and make such tests as may be necessary to determine whether 45 the provisions of this section are being complied with. The commissioner 46 may make reasonable rules and regulations relative to lights on motorcy- 47 cles and the approval of the same which may be necessary to effectuate 48 the foregoing provisions of this section. 49 (d) Only a white or yellow light shall be displayed upon an electric 50 assisted bicycle so as to be visible from a point directly in front of 51 the vehicle. 52 (e) Every electric assisted bicycle shall have at least one adequate 53 red reflector securely attached to the rear. Such reflector may be a 54 part of the rear lamp. No reflector shall be deemed adequate within the 55 meaning of this subdivision unless it is of a size and type approved by 56 the commissioner, and unless it is so designed, located and maintainedA. 6189 7 1 as to be visible for at least two hundred feet when opposed by a motor 2 vehicle displaying lawful undimmed headlights at night on an unlighted 3 highway. The provisions of this subdivision with respect to reflectors 4 shall be applicable, both day and night, whenever the motorcycle is on a 5 public highway. 6 3. No person shall operate an electric assisted bicycle unless it is 7 equipped with a suitable and adequate horn or other device for signal- 8 ing, which horn or device shall produce a sound sufficiently loud to 9 serve as a danger warning but shall not be used other than as a reason- 10 able warning nor be unnecessarily loud or harsh. 11 4. Every electric assisted bicycle shall be equipped with adequate 12 brakes in good working order and sufficient to control such electric 13 assisted bicycle at all times when such electric assisted bicycle is in 14 use. 15 5. Electric assisted bicycles shall operate in a manner so that the 16 electric motor is disengaged or ceases to function when the brakes are 17 applied, or operate in a manner such that the motor is engaged through a 18 switch or mechanism that, when released, will cause the electric motor 19 to disengage or cease to function. 20 6. Every electric assisted bicycle shall be equipped with reflective 21 tires or, alternatively, a reflex reflector mounted on the spokes of 22 each wheel, said tires and reflectors to be of types approved by the 23 commissioner. The reflex reflector mounted on the front wheel shall be 24 colorless or amber, and the reflex reflector mounted on the rear wheel 25 shall be colorless or red. 26 7. It shall be unlawful to operate on any public highway in this state 27 any electric assisted bicycle registered in this state, unless such 28 electric assisted bicycle is equipped with a rear view mirror which 29 shall be adjusted so that the operator of such electric assisted bicycle 30 shall have a clear view of the road and condition of traffic behind such 31 electric assisted bicycle. 32 § 1285. Directional signals. It shall be unlawful to operate on any 33 public highway or street in this state any electric assisted bicycle 34 unless such electric assisted bicycle is equipped with directional 35 signals approved by the commissioner. 36 § 1286. Electric assisted bicycles safety course. 1. The commissioner 37 shall establish a curriculum or curricula for a thirty minute electric 38 bicycle safety course to be completed by operators of electric assisted 39 bicycles annually. The commissioner may permit any such safety training 40 course to be given by any private person, club, association or munici- 41 pality which meets standards established by the commissioner. The 42 commissioner may establish a reasonable fee which any such person or 43 entity may charge for such course or courses. 44 2. Upon successful completion of a safety course given in conformity 45 with subdivision one of this section by a person sixteen years of age or 46 over, the person or entity which gave the course shall notify the 47 commissioner of such completion in a manner prescribed by the commis- 48 sioner. The commissioner shall, upon receipt of such information, issue 49 an electric assisted bicycle safety certificate to the person who has 50 successfully completed the course. 51 § 1287. Leaving the scene of an incident involving an electric 52 assisted bicycle without reporting. 1. (a) Any person eighteen years of 53 age or older operating an electric assisted bicycle who, knowing or 54 having cause to know, that physical injury, as defined in subdivision 55 nine of section 10.00 of the penal law, has been caused to another 56 person, due to the operation of such electric assisted bicycle by suchA. 6189 8 1 person shall, before leaving the place where such physical injury 2 occurred, stop and provide his or her name and residence, including 3 street and street number, to the injured party, if practical, and also 4 to a police officer, or in the event that no police officer is in the 5 vicinity of the place of said injury, then such person shall report said 6 incident as soon as physically able to the nearest police station or 7 judicial officer. 8 (b) A violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be a 9 violation. 10 2. (a) Any person eighteen years of age or older operating an electric 11 assisted bicycle who, knowing or having cause to know, that serious 12 physical injury, as defined in subdivision ten of section 10.00 of the 13 penal law, has been caused to another person, due to the operation of 14 such electric assisted bicycle by such person shall, before leaving the 15 place where such serious physical injury occurred, stop and provide his 16 or her name and residence, including street and street number, to the 17 injured party, if practical, and also to a police officer, or in the 18 event that no police officer is in the vicinity of the place of said 19 injury, then such person shall report said incident as soon as phys- 20 ically able to the nearest police station or judicial officer. 21 (b) A violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be a class 22 B misdemeanor. 23 § 1288. Insurance. The provisions of articles six, seven and eight of 24 this chapter shall be applicable to electric assisted bicycles. 25 § 7. Except as otherwise provided in this act, no municipal corpo- 26 ration, as defined in section 2 of the general municipal law, shall, 27 after June 1, 2019, enact any local law, ordinance or code relating to 28 the operation of an electric assisted bicycle unless the terms of such 29 law, ordinance or code are identical to the provisions of this act. The 30 provisions of this act shall invalidate and preempt any such local law, 31 ordinance or code, enacted after June 1, 2019 unless the terms of such 32 law, ordinance or code are identical to the provisions of this act. 33 § 8. The provisions of this act shall preempt any local law, ordi- 34 nance, code, rule or regulation relating to the operation of an electric 35 assisted bicycle, except that nothing in this act shall preclude any 36 state or local agency, which, by permit, license or registration regu- 37 lates the business or professional activities of individuals from impos- 38 ing more stringent restrictions than provided in this act for the use of 39 electric assisted bicycles upon such individuals during the course of 40 engaging in the business or professional activity that is the subject of 41 such agency's permit, license or registration. 42 § 9. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 43 it shall have become a law.
