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S1181Senate2017-2018 Session

Make Hit-and-Run a Misdemeanor

Official title

“Makes the traffic infraction leaving the scene of an incident without reporting a class A misdemeanor”

Sponsor Carl L. MarcellinoSD-5+1 co-sponsorAffects Transportation
Status
In Senate Committee
Transportation
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Transportation

What's happening

This bill upgrades leaving the scene of an incident without reporting from a traffic infraction to a class A misdemeanor with higher fines.

Why it matters

  1. Increases Legal Consequences. By raising the penalty from a traffic infraction to a class A misdemeanor, the bill means leaving the scene without reporting will now be treated as a criminal offense, not just a minor violation. This could lead to a permanent criminal record for offenders.

  2. Larger Financial Penalties. The minimum fine is increased to $500, with a maximum of $1,000—significantly higher than the previous maximum of $250. This raises the financial stakes for anyone considering leaving the scene.

  3. Potential for Additional Penalties. The new language allows for "any other penalties provided by law" to be added on top of the fine, which could result in harsher overall punishment, including possible probation or mandatory programs.

  4. Signals Greater Emphasis on Accountability. By elevating the seriousness of this offense, the bill aims to deter people from fleeing accident scenes and encourages responsible behavior after incidents, potentially improving safety and justice for victims.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Make Hit-and-Run a Misdemeanor

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Carl L. Marcellino

Senator · Senate District 5

Chair, Education

History

  1. Referred to transportation
  2. Returned to senate
  3. Died in assembly
  4. Referred to transportation
  5. Delivered to assembly
  6. Passed senateVote 62–0
  7. Advanced to third reading
  8. 2nd report cal.
  9. 1st report cal.958
  10. Referred to transportation

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

1181

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 6, 2017

Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to making the traffic infraction leaving scene of an incident without reporting a class A misdemeanor

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The closing paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 49 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:

A violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision shall constitute a [traffic infraction] class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of [up to two] not less than five hundred [fifty] nor more than one thousand dollars [or a sentence of imprisonment for up to fifteen days or both such fine and imprisonment] in addition to any other penalties provided by law.

§ 2. 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.

LBD06013-01-7

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to making the traffic infraction leaving scene of an incident without reporting a class A misdemeanor

Purpose

This bill increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an incident causing personal property damage from a traffic infraction to a class A misdemeanor.

Summary of provisions

The closing paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 49 of the laws of 2005 is amended to make the traffic infraction leavening scene of an incident without reporting a class A misdemeanor.

Justification

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. Even in incidents where only personal property is damaged, a fleeing driver is abandoning his or her responsibility for causing destruction to someone else's property.

A traffic infraction penalty does not reflect the seriousness of the crime committed. This legislation eliminates this situation by increasing the penalty for fleeing the scene of an incident causing damage to personal property from a traffic infraction to a class A misdemeanor.

Legislative history

S.732 of 2015/16

Fiscal implications

An anticipated increase in fine revenues.

Effective date

This act shall take effect the first of November after enactment.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.