The following words and phrases when used in this article shall,
for the purposes of this article, have the meanings respectively ascribed
to them in this article except where another definition is specifically
provided. Any words or phrases used in this article and not referred
to in this section shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to
them as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
BUS
Every motor vehicle having a seating capacity of 15 or more
passengers in addition to the driver and used for the transportation
of passengers.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The Department of Transportation of this state acting directly
or through its duly authorized officers and agents.
DRIVER
Every person who operates or drives or is in actual physical
control of a vehicle. Whenever the terms "chauffeur" or "operator"
or "chauffer's license" or "operator's license" are used
in this article, such terms shall be deemed to mean driver and driver's
license, respectively.
ESCORT VEHICLE
A motor vehicle which operates under its own power and which
precedes or follows a vehicle or combination of vehicles that has
been issued a special hauling permit by the Department of Transportation.
GROSS WEIGHT
The weight of a vehicle without load, plus the weight of
any load thereon.
HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way
publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the
public for purposes of vehicular travel.
LANED ROADWAY
A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked
lanes for purposes of vehicular travel.
MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT
The weight of the vehicle unladen, plus the weight of the
maximum load to be carried by such vehicle during the registration
period or the maximum gross weight for which the vehicle is registered,
whichever is greater.
MOTOR VEHICLES
Every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which
is propelled by any power other than muscular power, except electrically
driven mobility assistance devices operated or driven by a person
with a disability; vehicles which run only upon rails or tracks; snowmobiles
as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law; and all-terrain
vehicles as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The term "motor vehicle" shall exclude fire and police vehicles other
than ambulances. For the purpose of this section, the term "motor
vehicle" shall exclude farm-type tractors and all-terrain-type vehicles
used exclusively for agricultural purposes, or for snowplowing, other
than for hire, farm equipment, including self-propelled machines used
exclusively in growing, harvesting or handling farm produce, and self-propelled
caterpillar or crawler-type equipment while being operated on the
contract site.
PUBLIC HIGHWAY
Any highway, road, street, avenue, alley, public place, public
driveway or any other public way.
ROADWAY
That portion of a highway improved, designed, marked or ordinarily
used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the shoulder and slope. In
the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term
"roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately
but not to all such roadways collectively.
SEMITRAILER
Any trailer which is so designed that when operated the forward
end of its body or chassis rests upon the body or chassis of the towing
vehicle.
STREET
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way
publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the public for
purposes of vehicular travel.
TRACTOR
A motor vehicle designed and used as the power unit in combination
with a semitrailer or trailer or two such trailers in tandem. Any
such motor vehicle shall not carry cargo, except that a tractor and
semitrailer engaged in the transportation of automobiles may transport
motor vehicles on part of the power unit.
TRAILER
Any vehicle not propelled by its own power drawn on the public
highways by a motor vehicle as defined in this section, except motorcycle
sidecars, vehicles being towed by a nonrigid support and vehicles
designed and primarily used for other purposes and only occasionally
drawn by such a motor vehicle.
TRUCK
Every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily
for the transportation of property.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved
by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.