New York State Laws About Passing Garbage Trucks

“Slow Down to Get Around” is a national movement dedicated to increasing the safety of garbage collectors. Over the years, a disproportionate number of sanitation workers were killed on the road by speeding motorists. As of 2023, around half of the states have passed laws in some form or another requiring motorists to be extra diligent around garbage trucks.

In 2016, New York State also passed a law increasing safety measures for garbage collectors. They did so by amending a prior law that was enacted in 2012. The 2012 law required motorists driving in the right lane to move to the left lane when passing emergency vehicles or hazard vehicles operating on the shoulder. “Hazard vehicles” are generally understood to mean tow trucks and the like. It did not include garbage trucks. In 2016, the New York Assembly modified the meaning of hazard vehicles to include garbage trucks. Thus, at this time, the law in New York requires motorists to treat garbage trucks on the shoulder of the road the same way they would treat a police car on the shoulder of the road.

A conviction of this violation will put 2 points on your driving record. The fine is up to the judge with the maximum being $150 + $93 mandatory surcharge. With this violation appearing on your driving abstract, you can expect your insurance rates to go up. In 2024, another law was passed requiring motorists to move over for any vehicle parked on the side of the road.

If you were stopped and cited with failing to move over, it may make sense to fight it. The attorneys at the Benjamin Goldman Law Office have a lot of experience with this type of violation. We have been able to obtain dismissals for a lot of such cases. Our firm handled cases across the entire state, from Brooklyn in New York City, to Plattsburgh at the Canadian border in the north, to towns in the Buffalo region, like Amherst. If you want to chat about your case, feel free to get in touch with us.