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Bill

S 9751

Relates to drivers of buses, taxis and livery vehicles using hands-free mobile telephones

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeremy Cooney

New York bans hands-free mobile use for bus, taxi, and livery drivers in motion, with limited exceptions for dispatch, emergencies, or when parked.

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Bill Summary · S 9751

Summary of Bill S 9751 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

  • This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to restrict the use of hands-free mobile telephones by drivers of buses, taxis, and livery vehicles.
  • The goal is to reduce distractions for drivers of these vehicles and enhance public safety for passengers and other road users.

Key provisions and changes

  • New prohibition for certain drivers (hands-free use ban):
    Section 1 adds a new paragraph (e) to subdivision 2 of section 1225-c. It prohibits any driver of a bus, livery, or taxi from using a hands-free mobile telephone while operating a moving vehicle, with limited exceptions:

    • Emergency situations under existing provisions (as in subdivision 3, paragraph (a)).
    • Use of the hands-free device for dispatch.
    • When the vehicle is parked at the side of or off a public highway in a location where stopping is not otherwise prohibited (and not for dropping off or picking up passengers).

  • Clarifications and exceptions (continuing validity of other allowances):
    Section 2 expands subdivision 3 of section 1225-c to clarify exceptions that apply to the broader hands-free rule, including:

    • Use of a mobile telephone solely to communicate with designated emergency entities (emergency responders, hospitals/clinics, ambulance services, fire department, police).
    • Official duties exemptions for police officers, peace officers, fire department personnel, or operators of authorized emergency vehicles.
    • Importantly, the exception allowing hands-free use remains in place, but it explicitly excludes applying the hands-free allowance to drivers of buses, taxis, or livery vehicles when the vehicle is in motion—unless one of the listed exceptions applies (emergency, dispatch, or parked condition as noted in Section 1).

Who/what is affected

  • Affected drivers and vehicles:
    Drivers of buses, taxis, and livery (for-hire) vehicles operating moving vehicles in New York.

  • Who remains unaffected or differently regulated:

    • Other drivers not operating buses, taxis, or livery vehicles are not explicitly affected by this new provision (they may continue to be governed by existing hands-free laws).
    • Emergency personnel and certain official duties retain applicable exemptions where allowed by law.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date:
    The act takes effect on the sixtieth day after it becomes law.

  • Legislative history (high-level):

    • Introduced in the Senate on April 2, 2026.
    • Referred to the Transportation Committee.
    • Subsequent action shows advancement through committee stages with schedule indicating passage readiness in mid-to-late 2026.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Enforcement:
    Law enforcement can ticket bus, taxi, or livery drivers who use hands-free devices while the vehicle is moving, unless the encounter falls within an emergency, dispatch, or parked exception.

  • Operational considerations for fleets:
    Companies operating buses or taxi/livery fleets may need to review dispatch practices to ensure hands-free device use is limited to allowed circumstances and that drivers are trained on compliant behavior.

  • Public safety context:
    Aims to reduce driver distraction in high-visibility, passenger-facing transportation sectors, potentially reducing collision risk and improving passenger safety.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, transportation operators, or the general public) or add a comparison with existing hands-free or handheld restrictions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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