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New YorkS 98642025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Relates to adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic-control signal indications in the town of Palm Tree

Sponsored By: James Skoufis (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Rental car tickets shift to renter

If you rent out vehicles and get a notice, send a copy of the rental or lease that shows the renter’s name and address within 37 days. If you do that on time, the renter is treated as the owner and gets the notice and the bill. If you do not send it within 37 days, you stay liable. This rule lasts until December 31, 2030.

Defenses for Palm Tree camera tickets

You can use a defense if the traffic signal was malfunctioning. If your car was reported stolen before the time and not yet recovered, mail a certified police report by first-class mail and you are not liable. You are not fined if the driver used your car without your consent, but the law presumes consent unless you prove otherwise. If someone else was driving, you can sue that person to recover what you paid. These defenses last until December 31, 2030.

Palm Tree red-light cameras at two sites

The Town of Palm Tree can use cameras to enforce traffic signals at two places: Forest Road and Van Buren Drive; and Bakerstown Road, Dinev Road and Israel Zupnik Drive. The town must pass a local law and get written approval from the state Department of Transportation. The Department can change or revoke that approval at any time. The law starts 30 days after it became law and ends December 31, 2030.

How Palm Tree camera tickets work

If your car is used with your permission and a camera shows a signal violation, you can be fined up to $50 per violation. If you do not answer on time, up to $25 more can be added. You are not liable under this program if the driver is convicted of the same violation. This is a civil penalty. It is not a criminal conviction, does not go on a driving record, and insurers cannot use it. A sworn town technician’s certificate based on the images counts as evidence, and the images are available for you to review. Notices come by first-class mail and must list who is charged, the plate, place, date and time, an ID number, how to contest, and a default warning. Cases are heard by the town traffic violations bureau, or by the local traffic court if no bureau exists.

Privacy and public access to images

Camera systems must, as much as possible, avoid showing the driver, passengers, or what is inside the car. A notice is not thrown out just because images show contents if the town tried to prevent it. Images made under this program are treated as special records under the state public records law and can be exempt from disclosure. These rules last until December 31, 2030.

Town bidding rules and yearly reports

The town must use state competitive bidding rules when it buys or leases camera equipment. Each year by June 1, the town must send a report to state leaders. The report lists system locations, crashes before and after, counts of events and violations, notices sent, fines charged and paid, hearing results, total revenue and costs, and details on the hearing process. These duties last while the program runs and end December 31, 2030.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • James Skoufis

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 191 • No: 31

House vote • 6/4/2026

Assembly floor vote

Yes: 114 • No: 27

Senate vote • 6/2/2026

FLOOR Vote

Yes: 58 • No: 3

committee vote • 6/2/2026

Rules Committee Vote

Yes: 19 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. SIGNED CHAP.222

    8/14/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

    8/7/2026Senate

  3. RETURNED TO SENATE

    6/4/2026House

  4. PASSED ASSEMBLY

    6/4/2026House

  5. HOME RULE REQUEST

    6/4/2026House

  6. ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.519

    6/4/2026House

  7. SUBSTITUTED FOR A11128

    6/4/2026House

  8. REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

    6/2/2026House

  9. DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    6/2/2026Senate

  10. PASSED SENATE

    6/2/2026Senate

  11. HOME RULE REQUEST

    6/2/2026Senate

  12. ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1569

    6/2/2026Senate

  13. COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    6/2/2026Senate

  14. REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

    4/9/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Original

    4/9/2026

    PDF

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