N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law Section 1115
Interference with official traffic-control devices, railroad signs or signals and other highway appurtenances

(a)

No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, cover, remove, or otherwise interfere with any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal, or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof; any bridge or similar structure; any monument, lamppost, telephone pole, fence, walk, curb, tree, rock cut or other appurtenance on a highway right of way.

(b)

For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1.

to “deface” shall include, but not be limited to, to damage, destroy, disfigure, erase, ruin, distort, spoil or otherwise change the external appearance of an object by the use of chalk, crayon, paint, stain, ink or other similar material.

2.

to “alter” a traffic-control signal shall include, but not be limited to, changing or attempting to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal by use of a traffic-control signal preemption device.

3.

“traffic-control signal preemption device” shall mean any device designed or used to change or attempt to change the signal indications of a traffic-control signal.

(c)

The presence in a vehicle of a traffic-control signal preemption device connected to a power source and in an operable condition is presumptive evidence of its use by any person operating such vehicle. Such presumption shall be rebutted by any credible and reliable evidence which tends to show that such device was not in use.

Source: Section 1115 — Interference with official traffic-control devices, railroad signs or signals and other highway appurtenances, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1115 (updated Nov. 4, 2016; accessed Nov. 29, 2025).

1110
Obedience to and required traffic-control devices 1111
Traffic-control signal indications 1111–A
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–B
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–B*2
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–B*3
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–C
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus lane restrictions 1111–C–1
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related traffic regulations 1111–D
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–D*2
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–D*3
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–E
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–F
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–G
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–G*2
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–H
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–I
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1111–I*2
Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with traffic-control indications 1112
Pedestrian-control signal indications 1113
Flashing signal indications 1114
Display of unauthorized signs, signals, or markings 1115
Interference with official traffic-control devices, railroad signs or signals and other highway appurtenances 1116
Lane-use control signal indications 1117
Traffic-control signals
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Nov. 29, 2025

Last modified:
Nov. 4, 2016

§ 1115. Interference with official traffic-control devices, railroad signs or signals & other highway appurtenances's source at nysenate​.gov

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