N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1602: Emergency rule

§ 1602. Emergency rule. (a) Whenever a police officer shall deem it

advisable during a fire or at the time of any accident or special

emergency and only for such period of time as is necessitated thereby

for the public safety or convenience, temporarily to close any street or

part thereof to vehicular traffic, or to vehicles of a certain

description, or to divert the traffic thereof, or to divert or break a

course of pedestrian traffic, such official shall have power and

authority to do so.

(b) In the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic

or to safeguard pedestrians or property: any police officer or other

person empowered to regulate traffic at the scene may, to the extent

authorized by local law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or

administrative code provision adopted by local authorities with respect

to highways within their corporate boundaries, direct traffic as

conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or

of local laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, administrative

code or sanitary code provisions regulating traffic; and, in addition,

outside of cities and villages any member of the state police may direct

traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this

chapter or of local laws, ordinances, orders, rules or regulations

regulating traffic.

(c) Whenever the head of any police force or police department or the

chief executive officer of a city, town or village shall deem it

advisable during a snow storm or in order to remove snow or to plow

streets, provided that signs or markings giving notice are posted as

required by section sixteen hundred eighty-three of this chapter, such

head of the police force or police department or the chief executive

officer of a city, town or village may close any street or part thereof

to vehicular traffic or prohibit, restrict or limit the stopping,

standing or parking of vehicles.

(d) The superintendent of the New York state police or the head of any

police force or police department may authorize the temporary closure of

any street or part thereof to vehicular traffic, or to vehicles of a

certain description, or to divert the traffic thereof, or to divert or

break a course of pedestrian traffic in the following situations:

1. during the time of any speed contest, exhibition of speed or

similar special event which is being held pursuant to section eleven

hundred eighty-two-a of this chapter;

2. during the time of the filming of any movie, commercial or similar

event which is being undertaken pursuant to section eleven hundred

eighty-two-b of this chapter.