Feiner says state should take responsibility for its potholes

Feiner said that the state law exempting the state from liability for pothole damage on its roads between Nov. 15 through May 1st should be changed.

“New York State should be treated no differently than local governments treat motorists,” Feiner said. “If you drive on a town, city, village road and go over a pothole and your car was damaged the local government is responsible if the municipality had received written notice and did nothing about it. ”

Feiner blamed the State Legislature for not taken adequate steps to ensure that state-owned roads are properly maintained. He cited numerous potholes on Knollwood Road in Greenburgh, on Central Ave, on portions of Dobbs Ferry Road and on Broadway in the river villages as examples of fixes that are needed.

While not being specific about steps he’d be taking to change the law, Feiner did credit former Assemblyman Tom Abinanti with having tried to pass legislation that would have enabled motorists to get reimbursed for pothole related damages if the state receives written notice about the potholes and does nothing to fix them.