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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the crimes of dangerous driving in the fifth, fourth, third, second and first degrees
Purpose
Creates the crimes of dangerous driving in the fifth, fourth, third, second, and first degrees.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the penal law by adding five new sections, 120.71, 120.72, 120.73, 120.74 and 120.75. Section two states that this act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding that date on which it shall become law.
Justification
Drivers who continue to operate motor vehicles in an unsafe manner should not be able to escape criminal liability for causing "accidents" which injure innocent drivers or pedestrians. A person who has prior convictions for unsafe driving should not continue to drive in a manner that is dangerous to others. These dangerous drivers who cause injury to others in what is incorrectly deemed an "accident" should face criminal prosecution for continually flaunting the rules of the road. Also, drivers who operate motor vehicles with a suspended license or no license must be prosecuted if they cause injury to others. A license to drive is a privilege and not a license to kill or injure. Those who flagrantly violate the Vehicle and Traffic Law must be held accountable for the injuries they cause. This legislation sends a clear message that we will no longer permit dangerous drivers to escape responsibility for their misconduct by incorrectly calling it an "accident".
Legislative history
2008: S.5584 - Passed Senate/A.2649 - Referred to Codes 2007: S.5584 - Referred to Codes/A.2649 - Referred to Codes 2006: S.5333 - Referred to Codes/A.7885 - Referred to Codes 2005: S.5333 - Referred to Codes/A.7885 - Referred to Codes
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
1st of November next succeeding that date on which it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.