State Senate Passes Three of Avella's Road Safety Bills

The state Senate has passed three pieces of driver safety legislation sponsored by Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, including one that would result in the suspension of licenses for drivers under 18 years of age who commit certain violations.

One bill would prohibit the use of radar and laser blocking devices in all motor vehicles, while another would incorporate standards for low volume road classification into state highway law.

Avella said the bills are vital to the safety of the state’s drivers. Under current law, penalties imposed on inexperienced drivers for failing to abide by restrictions on the hours new drivers can be on the road as well as the number of passengers they can carry are insufficient in deterring vehicle and traffic law violations, the senator said.

Additionally, drivers are able to operate vehicles at illegal speeds due to the legal status of some radar and laser blocking devices, which are often used for the purpose of evading police speed detecting equipment.

“Passing these bipartisan bills into law would be a great way to ensure that our roads are as safe as possible,” Avella said. “Making sure our young drivers understand the maturity required to safely operate a motor vehicle and banning these law enforcement-evasion devices are the least we can do for the safety of drivers in New York.”

Avella said his bill on low volume road classification legitimizes a long-standing procedure that has existed for more than 20 years.

All three pieces of legislation have passed in the Senate, but not yet in the Assembly.