S04470: Police Training on Shooting at Moving Vehicles Passes Senate 57-4

What the Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 4470 would require the Municipal Police Training Council to develop and disseminate written policies and procedures regarding the discharge of firearms at moving vehicles^[1]. The bill also mandates training for police officers on this specific use of force scenario. Shooting at moving vehicles is widely recognized in law enforcement as extremely dangerous — it poses risks to bystanders, rarely stops the vehicle, and can turn a non-lethal encounter lethal. Many major departments, including the NYPD, already restrict or prohibit the practice under their own policies, but no statewide standard currently exists.

The Assembly companion A08451 was substituted by S04470A on March 16, 2026^[2].

Current Status

S04470 passed the New York Senate on March 10, 2026, by a vote of 57-4. The Assembly companion is A08451. The bill now awaits action in the Assembly.

What to Watch

This is a law enforcement training and policy bill, not a firearms regulation bill aimed at the public. Its advancement reflects post-2020 police reform momentum. Watch for whether the bill prescribes specific restrictions (such as an outright prohibition on shooting at moving vehicles absent an imminent deadly threat from a weapon other than the vehicle itself) or merely requires each department to adopt a policy without mandating its content.