New York Assembly Bill A05259

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Relates to the operation of vehicles when approaching a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle or vehicle displaying a blue or green light; provides for mandatory revocation of a driver's license for a period of six months where a person violates section 1144-a of the vehicle and traffic law and causes serious physical injury or death to another person; directs the division of criminal justice services to establish a public information campaign to instruct the public that operating a motor vehicle when approaching a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle or vehicle displaying a blue or green light that results in physical injury, serious physical injury or death as a result of the operator recklessly failing to exercise due care to avoid a collision can result in serious criminal penalties.

Summary

A05259 expands New York’s “move over” rules for motorists approaching stopped or parked vehicles on the shoulder or roadway. It amends Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1144-a to require drivers to exercise due care not only around authorized emergency vehicles, hazard vehicles, and vehicles displaying blue or green lights, but also around certain other motor vehicles on parkways and controlled-access highways. In those settings, the bill specifically says drivers should move into another lane when possible, so long as doing so complies with other traffic laws. The bill also strengthens criminal penalties when a reckless failure to exercise due care causes harm. A driver who causes physical injury would face a class A misdemeanor, with repeat violations within 18 months escalating to a class E felony. If the conduct causes serious physical injury, the offense becomes a class D felony, and if it causes death, it becomes a class C felony. In the serious-injury or death cases, the bill also adds a six-month driver’s license or registration suspension. Finally, it directs the Division of Criminal Justice Services to run a public information campaign explaining the new penalties and safety obligations.

Impact

The bill would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law by broadening the scope of protected roadside vehicles and by adding a new criminal penalty structure tied to reckless violations of the move-over requirement. It also amends the license-suspension provisions in section 510 to require a six-month suspension for convictions involving serious physical injury or death. The measure would affect motorists statewide, as well as emergency responders, tow operators, snow-removal vehicles, and other roadside workers whose vehicles use authorized light signals.

Sentiment

The available record does not include committee debate or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from the legislative process. Based on the bill text, the measure is framed as a roadway safety and worker-protection bill, with an emphasis on preventing collisions and increasing public awareness of the consequences of reckless driving. The overall tone is preventive and punitive, suggesting a public-safety rationale rather than a controversial policy shift.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are the expansion of criminal liability and the severity of the penalties. Drivers and civil-liberties critics could object to felony exposure and license suspension for conduct tied to a reckless failure to move over, while supporters are likely to emphasize the need to protect emergency personnel, tow operators, snow-removal crews, and other roadside workers. Another possible issue is the bill’s extension of lane-change expectations on parkways and controlled-access highways, which could raise questions about feasibility in traffic conditions where moving over may be difficult or unsafe.