New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York Senate Bill S00486

Introduced
1/8/25  
Refer
1/8/25  

Caption

Requires certain state police vehicles to carry jumper cables; requires officers operating such vehicles offer to use such jumper cables on disabled vehicles.

Summary

This bill would amend the New York Executive Law to require certain New York State Police vehicles used for traffic enforcement to be equipped with jumper cables. It also directs state police officers to offer the use of those cables when they encounter a disabled vehicle, with the officer placing the cables on the police vehicle and the driver of the disabled vehicle placing them on their own vehicle before starting it. The measure is narrowly focused on roadside assistance during traffic enforcement encounters. It does not create a broader towing, repair, or emergency service program, but instead adds a specific equipment and assistance requirement for state police vehicles assigned to traffic enforcement duties. The bill would take effect 180 days after becoming law, with any needed regulations authorized to be adopted in advance.

Impact

The bill would add a new section to the Executive Law and impose an operational requirement on the superintendent of state police to equip qualifying patrol vehicles with jumper cables. It would affect state police traffic enforcement operations and create a limited duty for officers to offer assistance to motorists with disabled vehicles, while preserving a hands-off approach in which the officer does not physically connect the cables to the disabled vehicle. The bill would likely require internal policy updates, vehicle equipment procurement, and training for affected officers.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided material, so no formal legislative debate or roll-call sentiment is available. Based on the text alone, the bill appears practical and service-oriented, aimed at providing a simple roadside aid to motorists. The absence of objections or amendments in the available record suggests no documented controversy in the materials provided.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of discussion, if the bill were debated, could include whether this is an appropriate use of state police resources, whether officers should be responsible for assisting with vehicle starts, and whether the requirement should apply to all patrol vehicles or only those used for traffic enforcement. However, none of these concerns are attributed to any legislator or stakeholder in the supplied record.

Companion Bills

NY A04175

Same As Requires certain state police vehicles to carry jumper cables; requires officers operating such vehicles offer to use such jumper cables on disabled vehicles.

Previously Filed As

NY S02195

Requires certain state police vehicles to carry jumper cables; requires officers operating such vehicles offer to use such jumper cables on disabled vehicles.

NY A04175

Requires certain state police vehicles to carry jumper cables; requires officers operating such vehicles offer to use such jumper cables on disabled vehicles.

VA HB219

Kei vehicles; operation and requirements.

NY A08317

Requires all vehicles move over or slow down for parked, stopped and standing vehicles on highways, requiring the inclusion of at least one question regarding such requirement on the state driver's license examination, and requires public education measures on such requirement.

WI SB159

Requirements for lighting on police vehicles.

NY A08831

Relates to the operation of three-wheeled vehicles; removes requirement that such vehicles have two wheels situated in the front and one wheel in the rear.

WI AB179

Requirements for lighting on police vehicles.

AL SB303

Motor vehicles; off-road vehicles, operation requirements for use on public roads, provided

AL SB218

Motor vehicles; off-road vehicles, operation requirements for use on public roads, provided

AL SB296

Motor vehicles; off-road vehicles, operation requirements for use on public roads, provided

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.