N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1685

§ 1685. All vehicles must stop or yield at certain railroad grade\ncrossings where a stop or yield sign is erected. The state\ntransportation commissioner, with respect to state highways, and local\nauthorities with respect to local streets within their jurisdiction,\nwith the approval of the state transportation commissioner are hereby\nauthorized to install a stop or yield sign at any highway-railroad\ncrossings within their respective jurisdictions.\n The design and place and manner of installation of such signs shall\nconform to the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic\ncontrol devices adopted by the state transportation commissioner.\n Whenever any such crossing is so designated and a stop or yield sign\nis installed, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail\nto stop or yield within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from\nsuch railroad tracks before traversing such crossing. The failure to\nerect, or the erection of, or failure to replace or maintain such signs\nshall not be a basis for any action of negligence against a municipality\nor the state nor a basis of a defense by a railroad in an action based\non negligence against a railroad.\n