NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4957
SPONSOR: Palmesano
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the defi-
nition of an all terrain vehicle or "ATV"
 
PURPOSE:
This bill raises the defined weight of an all-terrain vehicle to 1,500
pounds of dry weight to allow certain all-terrain vehicles to be regis-
tered in New York.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the definition of an "all-terrain vehicle" in chapter
319 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by raising the dry weight qualifica-
tion from 1,000 pounds to 1,500 pounds for certain all-terrain vehicles.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The current vehicle and traffic law defines an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
as being no wider than 70 inches and no heavier than 1,000 pounds.
Advancements in technology have lead to the development of new all-ter-
rain vehicles. Sometimes, these new vehicles are heavier than the more
traditional models. Unlike other states, New York has not updated their
regulations to allow the registration of these new vehicles. The current
dry weight limit on all-terrain vehicles is enticing New Yorkers to
register their vehicles in other states or to leave their vehicles
unregistered.
By increasing the weight limit on certain all-terrain vehicles by 500
pounds users will be able to register their vehicles in New York State.
This will generate more revenue for the State through registrations.
Also, it is anticipated that permitting the registration of certain
all-terrain vehicles weighing over 1,000 pounds will increase the inter-
est in purchasing such vehicles and generate additional sales tax reven-
ue for the State. Finally, enactment of this legislation will provide a
necessary update to allow current owners of all-terrain vehicles to
register and legally use their vehicles in New York.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: A.8601 - referred to transportation
2017-2018: A.4412 - Referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No cost to the state. Additional revenue is anticipated through new
registrations and sales tax.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 30th day after it shall have become
law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4957
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 9, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PALMESANO, BARCLAY, GOODELL, HAWLEY, WALCZYK --
read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the defi-
nition of an all terrain vehicle or "ATV"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 2281 of the vehi-
2 cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 319 of the laws of 1997, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 (a) "All terrain vehicle" or "ATV" means any self-propelled vehicle
5 which is manufactured for sale for operation primarily on off-highway
6 trails or off-highway competitions and only incidentally operated on
7 public highways providing that such vehicle does not exceed seventy
8 inches in width, or one thousand five hundred pounds dry weight.
9 Provided, however, this definition shall not include a "snowmobile" or
10 other self-propelled vehicles manufactured for off-highway use exclu-
11 sively designed for travel on snow or ice, steered by skis or runners
12 and supported in whole or in part by one or more skis, belts or cleats
13 which utilize an endless belt tread.
14 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
15 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06221-01-1