What's happening
This bill expands forgery crimes to include fake insurance documents and makes forging ten or more instruments first-degree forgery.
Why it matters
Cracking down on fake insurance documents. By specifically including insurance certificates and ID cards as instruments covered under forgery laws, the bill targets a common avenue for insurance fraud, which can drive up costs and put the public at risk if unqualified drivers are on the road.
Harsher penalties for organized or large-scale forgery. Elevating the act of forging ten or more instruments to first-degree forgery signals a focus on combating criminal enterprises or repeat offenders, not just isolated incidents, and could deter coordinated fraud schemes.
Potential for increased prosecutions and deterrence. Law enforcement and prosecutors would have clearer grounds to charge individuals for these specific acts, possibly leading to more prosecutions and acting as a stronger deterrent against forging insurance documents.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Crack Down on Insurance Forgery
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Forgery Covers Fake Insurance Cards
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1217
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, COLTON, GUNTHER, COOK, JAFFEE, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to including the forgery of a certificate of insurance or an insurance identification card within the offense of forgery in the second degree and the forgery of ten or more instruments with the offense of forgery in the first degree
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 170.10 of the penal law is amended and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
5. A prescription of a duly licensed physician or other person authorized to issue the same for any drug or any instrument or device used in the taking or administering of drugs for which a prescription is required by law[.]; or
6. A certificate of insurance or an insurance identification card, as defined in section three hundred eleven of the vehicle and traffic law.
§ 2. Section 170.15 of the penal law is amended to read as follows: § 170.15 Forgery in the first degree.
A person is guilty of forgery in the first degree when, with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he or she falsely makes, completes or alters [a]:
1. Ten or more written instruments; or
2. A written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is calculated to become or to represent if completed:
[1.] (a) Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities or other valuable instruments issued by a government or governmental instrumentality; or
[2.] (b) Part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization or its property.
Forgery in the first degree is a class C felony.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04381-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.