Statutes relating to traffic control.May 2007
(a)General. State statutes establish the legal framework for regulation, warning, and guidance of highway traffic. The following subdivisions list portions of the Consolidated Laws of New York related to traffic control. This list is presented only as a guide to subject matter. It does not necessarily represent a complete and up-to-date tabulation of pertinent statutes.
(b)Vehicle and Traffic Law.
(1) Definitions of words and phrases.
§100- a through 159 Definitions of terms
(2)Department of Motor Vehicles.
§207Uniform summons for traffic violations
§210Highway safety and driver training programs
(3) Vehicle size and weight.
§393Power to weigh and measure vehicles and responsibility for damage byvehicles in violation of limits
(4) Rules of the road.
§1100Application to motor vehicle traffic on highways and private roads
§1101Obedience to traffic laws
§1102Obedience to police officers
§1103Obedience by public officials, with exceptions for work on highway andhazard vehicles
§1104Privileges of emergency vehicle drivers
§1105Obedience by persons riding animals or driving animal-drawn vehicles
§1110Obedience to traffic control devices and requirements for official signs
§1111Meanings of, and obedience to, traffic-control signal indications
§1112Meanings of, and obedience to, pedestrian-control signal indications
§1113Meanings of, and obedience to, flashing signal indications
§1114Unauthorized devices
§1115Interference with devices
§1116Meanings of, and obedience to, lane direction control indications
§1120Driving on the right side of roadway
§1121Passing to the right side of vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction
§1122Basic provisions for overtaking a vehicle on the left
§1123Permission for overtaking a vehicle on the right
§1124Limitations on overtaking a vehicle on the left
§1125Limitations on driving to the left of the center of roadway
§1126No-passing zones
§1127Driving on one-way roadways and at rotary traffic islands
§1128Driving on roadways laned for traffic
§1129Following too closely
§1130Driving on divided and controlled access highways
§1140Right-of-way at intersections
§1141Right-of-way for vehicles turning left
§1142Right-of-way for vehicles entering a stop or yield intersection
§1143Right-of-way for vehicles entering a highway from a private driveway
§1144Right-of-way upon approach of emergency vehicles
§1145Right-of-way for vehicles approaching rotary traffic circles or islands
§1150Pedestrian obedience to traffic control signals
§1151Pedestrian right-of-way in crosswalks
§1151-aPedestrian right-of-way on sidewalks
§1152Pedestrians right-of-way when crossing a roadway outside a crosswalk
§1153Rights and duties of blind pedestrians
§1154Driver avoidance of pedestrians
§155Walking on right side of crosswalk
§1156Walking on roadways
§1157Soliciting rides or business
§1160Position and method of turning at intersections
§1161Prohibition of U-turns in certain locations
§1162Starting a parked vehicle
§1163Requirements for making turning movements
§1164Requirements for hand-and-arm signals or signal lamps
§1165Method of giving hand-and-arm signals
§1166Position and method of turning at private driveways
§1170Obedience to signals indicating the approach of trains
§1171Requirement for certain vehicles to stop at all railroad crossings
§1172Obedience to stop and yield signs
§1173Emerging from an alley, driveway, or building
§1174Stopping for a stopped school bus
§1175Obstructing traffic at an intersection
§1180Basic speed rule and obedience to posted speed limits
§1180-aLimitations on establishing maximum speed limits
§1181Obedience to minimum speed regulations
§1182Speed contests and races
§1190-1196Reckless driving and driving while intoxicated
§1200Basic rules for stopping, standing and parking
§1201Stopping, standing and parking outside business or residence districts
§1202Stopping, standing and parking in specified places
§1203Parallel and angle parking, and parking limitations for persons selling orrepairing vehicles
§1203-aParking for vehicles with handicapped parking permits
§1203-bParking for vehicles with disabled person license plates
§1204Removal of illegally stopped vehicles
§1211Backing
§1214Opening and closing vehicle doors
§1215Driving on mountain highways
§1216Coasting
§1217Following emergency fire vehicles
§1218Crossing fire hose
§1219Placing glass or other injurious substances on highways
§1220Throwing refuse. on highways and adjacent lands
§1221Driving through a safety zone
§1224Vehicle abandonment
§1225Avoiding a traffic control device
§1225-aDriving on sidewalks
§1229-aPedestrians, animals and non-motorized vehicles on state expresswayhighways and state interstate route highways
§1230Actions of minors upon highways and bike paths
§1231Application of traffic laws to persons riding bicycles
§1232Method of riding a bicycle
§1233Clinging to vehicles by persons on bicycles and play vehicles
§1234Positions and procedures for bicycle riding
§1235Carrying articles on a bicycle
§1251Method of riding a motorcycle
§1252Operation of motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic
§1253Clinging to vehicles by persons on motorcycles
(5)Powers of state and local authorities
§1600Limitations of powers
§1601Rights of owners of real property to regulate traffic
§1602Closing of streets and control of traffic during emergencies
§1603Delegation of powers to officials, boards, or agencies
§1604Guarantees on free use of public highways
§1610Department of Transportation to facilitate adoption of uniform ordinances anddevices
§1611Department of Transportation orders considered rules and regulations
§1612Supreme Court jurisdiction with respect to Department of Transportationorders
§1613Judicial review of Department of Transportation orders
§1620Department of Transportation authority for speed regulations on statehighways and highways in Indian reservations
§1621Department of Transportation authority for traffic regulations on statehighways and highways in Indian reservations
§1622Department of Transportation authority for speed regulations on county roadsand town highways
§1623Department of Transportation authority for traffic regulations on stateproperties
§1624Department of Transportation authority to prevent establishment of localspeed limits on state highways and require reporting of local speedingconvictions
§1625Authority for traffic regulations on restricted highways
§1626Department of Transportation authority to regulate rest areas, parking areas,and scenic overlooks
§1628Department of Transportation authority for traffic regulations on barge canalbridges
§1630Authority of public authorities and commissions for traffic regulations onhighways under their jurisdiction
§1631Regulation of overtaking and passing on the New York State Thruway
§1632Traffic regulations on the New York State Thruway in cities of over onemillion population
§1640City and village authority for traffic regulations
§1640-aCity and village authority for traffic regulations on driveways and in parkingareas
§1641City and village authority for traffic regulations on non-state highways
§1642Traffic regulation authority in cities of over one million population
§1643City and village authority for speed regulations
§1644City and village authority for speed regulations on bridges
§1645Exceptions to city and village traffic regulation authority
§1650County superintendent of highways authority for traffic regulations on countyroads
§1651County superintendent of highways authority for traffic regulations on countyroads outside cities and villages
§1652County superintendent of highways authority for speed regulations on bridges
§1652-aCounty superintendent of highways authority to provide traffic control deviceson city, village, and town highways
§1652-bSuffolkCounty superintendent of highways authority for traffic control onvillage and town highways
§1660Town authority for traffic regulations
§1660-aTown authority for traffic regulations on driveways and in parking areas
§1662Authority of SuffolkCounty towns for parking regulations in congested areas
§1662-aTown authority for speed regulations
§1663Town authority for speed regulations on town highway bridges
§1664Exceptions to town traffic regulation authority
§1670Authority of local authorities and school districts for traffic regulations onmunicipal properties
§1675Functions of county traffic safety boards
§1680Adoption of a manual of uniform traffic control devices
§1681Installation, operation, and maintenance of state traffic control devices
§1682Installation, operation, and maintenance of local traffic control devices
§1683Traffic regulation posting requirements
§1684Approval of local traffic regulations and control devices on state highways
§1685Authority for, and obedience to, stop signs at railroad-highway grade crossings
(6) Registration of snowmobiles, motorboats, and limited use vehicles.
§2221Definition of snowmobile
§2227Department of Motor Vehicles authority for rules and regulations governingsnowmobile registration
§2229Snowmobiles are not motor vehicles
§2262Limitations on use of limited use vehicles
§2268Motor-assisted vehicles may not be registered
§2270Department of Motor Vehicles authority for rules and regulations governinglimited use vehicle registration
(c) CountyLaw.
§215County board of supervisors authority to regulate use of parking areas on county property
(d) Education Law.
§362Authority of the state university for traffic regulation on university grounds
§5708Authority of CornellUniversity for traffic regulation
(e) Environmental Conservation Law.
§11-1101Placing or setting wildlife traps on a public highway
§71-3501Noisome or unwholesome substances or business on or near highways
(f) General Business Law.
§599Definition of traffic control device
§599-aSale of traffic control devices
§599-bDepartment of Transportation certificates of approval for sale of non-conforming traffic control devices
§599-cPenalties for selling improper traffic control devices
§599-dSale of traffic control devices in cities of over one million population
§599-eDepartment of Transportation authority to adopt regulations regarding approval of non-conforming traffic devices
(g)General Municipal Law.
§125-aPosting signs on dead-end roads
§180Registration, inspection, and use of bicycles
§208-aSchool and church crossing guard traffic control authority
(h) Highway Law
§10Signs for detours and temporary routes established in connection with state highway construction
§14Rules and regulations for protection of state highways and use of chains or armored tires
§20Provision of roadside rest areas along state highways
§42-aEstablishment and identification of temporary detours in connection with maintenance of state highways
§80Use of federal aid monies for construction of traffic control devices to serve mass transportation passengers
§102County superintendent of highways responsibility for signs on detours andtemporary routes and authority for installation of signs regarding penalties for putting injurious substances on roads
§104Requirements for posting closed highways
§104-aDesignation of highways under construction or reconstruction as restricted highways
§140Signs for detours and temporary routes established connection with town highway construction
§154Erection of guide boards by town highway superintendents
§205-a Designation of town highways as seasonal limited use highways
§230Signing of load limits on state highway bridges, and posting of closed state highway bridges
§231 Requirements for posting closed county road and town highway bridges and for signing load limits on county road and town highway bridges
§316Bicycles and tricycles guaranteed free use of highways
(i)Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.
§21.05Definitions of terms relating to snowmobiles
§25.01Adoption of rules and regulations for uniform signs or markers to control, direct or regulate snowmobile operation and use
§25.03General rules for operation of snowmobiles
§25.05Rules for snowmobile operation on highways
§25.09Designation and posting of highways on which snowmobile travel is to be permitted
(j) Public Authorities Law.
§361Authority of the New York State Thruway Authority to control traffic
(k) Railroad Law.
§53Signs, flagmen, and gates at railroad-highway grade crossings
§53-aWarning signs at railroad-highway grade crossings
§53-bRinging bells and blowing whistles at railroad-highway grade crossings
§53-3Obstruction of railroad-highway grade crossings
(l) Transportation Law.
§14Authority and responsibility of the Department of Transportation to regulate and control traffic
(m) Town Law.
§64Town authority to grant permits for use and occupancy of streets, highways, and public places; to name and number streets and provide street signs; and to purchase, install, and operate traffic signals
§130Town ordinances for parking regulations near fire houses and hydrants and regulations on use of streets, highways, and sidewalks
§198Regulation of public parking places and use of parking meters
(n) Village Law.
§89Village authority to name streets; conduct road work; regulate use of streets and sidewalks; regulate excavating in streets; and regulate peddling, advertising, and banners
(o) Statutes not consolidated by the legislature. The New York State Defense Emergency Act, with amendments, also contains provisions relating to control of traffic. Relevant sections are listed below (section numbers are those in McKinney's Unconsolidated Laws of New York).
§9123Requirements for cities and counties to control pedestrian and vehicular traffic during civil defense tests and drills, and during and subsequent to attack, and for recruiting, equipping, and training police to maintain order and control traffic
§9181Vehicular traffic violation or disobedience a misdemeanor
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