S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1079
1997-1998 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 17, 1997
___________
Introduced by Sen. MALTESE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the licens-
ing of drivers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law
2 is amended by adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
3 (H) IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A DRIVER`S LICENSE IS
4 CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF THE VARIOUS TRAFFIC CONTROL
5 DEVICES USED IN THIS STATE AND OF COMPREHENDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS OR
6 DIRECTIONS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR ANY OTHER OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED TO
7 REGULATE OR DIRECT TRAFFIC MAY GIVE, EACH APPLICANT SHALL DEMONSTRATE,
8 IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AN ABILITY TO READ, WRITE,
9 UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
10 PROVIDE THAT THE DRIVER`S LICENSE EXAMINATIONS SHALL BE GIVEN ONLY IN
11 THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
12 S 2. This act shall take effect on the first day of January next
13 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply
14 to all applicants seeking a driver`s license on and after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
{ } is old law to be omitted.
LBD04466-01-7