(b) (i) The commissioner may investigate reports received through such
website, and toll-free hotline related to the provisions of this article
or article seven of this chapter and, where the commissioner has
verified such information, may consider such verified information in the
enforcement of such articles, and in setting priorities for enforcement
activities.
(ii) The commissioner of motor vehicles may investigate reports
received by such website, and toll-free hotline related to the
provisions of article five, section three hundred eighty-three, article
fourteen, article nineteen, article nineteen-A, and title VII of the
vehicle and traffic law and, where substantiated by such commissioner,
may consider such substantiated information in the enforcement of
articles five, fourteen, and nineteen-A and section three hundred
eighty-three of such law, and in setting priorities for enforcement
activities.
(iii) In consultation and cooperation with the commissioner of motor
vehicles, the commissioner shall report on safety issues reported to
such website, and toll-free hotline and related investigations
summarizing (A) the total number of safety issue reports received and
the type of safety issues reported; (B) the total number of safety issue
reports received and the type of safety issues reported where the
commissioner or the commissioner of motor vehicles, as applicable,
verified the information provided; (C) enforcement actions and other
responses taken by the commissioner or the commissioner of motor
vehicles, as applicable, to safety issue reports received where the
commissioner or the commissioner of motor vehicles, as applicable, has
verified such information; and (D) the length of time between the
receipt of safety issue reports from such website, or hotline and
enforcement action or other response by the commissioner or the
commissioner of motor vehicles, as applicable. Such report shall be made
publicly available on the department's website in a searchable format,
and shall be published no less than once annually. Such report may also
be included within the department's annual report submitted pursuant to
subdivision thirteen of section fourteen of this chapter.