Increases the penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license

2 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• William J. Larkin Jr.

BILL NUMBER:S1919

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing the penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license

Purpose or general idea of bill

To stiffen the penalties for driving with a suspended license in order to protect the safety of law abiding drivers.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill changes the penalties for driving with a suspended license. For a violation in the third degree, the penalty will be changed to a fine no less than $500 to no more than $1000 and/or no more than 30 days in jail. For a violation in the second degree, the penalty will change to a fine of no less than $1000 to no more than $5000 and/or up to 160 days in jail. For a violation in the first degree, the penalty will be one to four years in prison or one year in prison under special circumstances.

Justification

Irresponsible drivers in New York state whose licenses have been suspended or revoked are a danger to others when they operate a vehicle. However, time and time again accidents resulting in the inju- ry and death of innocent people are caused by those who do not obey the law.Violators are not deterred by the consequences of driving without a license. There have been several accidents across the state in the past few years where dangerous drivers who have had their licenses suspended have gotten behind the wheel of a car and caused injuries and fatali- ties. The Legislature needs to send a clear and persuasive message by increasing the penalties for driving with a suspended license which will help deter those individuals. This legislation seeks to protect the public from those who not only drive irresponsibly, but are not supposed to be allowed on the road in the first place.

Prior legislative history

2011-2012 S. 1271-A Passed Senate

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.