What's happening
This bill increases penalties, including mandatory imprisonment, for leaving the scene of a vehicle incident without reporting, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved.
Why it matters
Mandatory imprisonment and higher fines. The bill replaces previous discretionary penalties with required jail time and increases minimum and maximum fines for leaving the scene, making consequences more severe for offenders.
Stricter treatment for repeat and serious offenses. Repeat violations and those resulting in serious injury or death are upgraded to felonies, with longer minimum imprisonment terms and higher fines, signaling a tougher stance on recidivism and harm.
New alcohol/drug presumption. If someone leaves the scene within four hours of consuming alcohol or drugs, the law presumes they did so to avoid DUI prosecution, triggering automatic criminal penalties with mandatory jail time—even if intoxication isn’t directly proven.
Expanded police authority and clearer procedures. The bill clarifies that law enforcement can arrest suspects for these violations without witnessing the incident, and provides specific duties for officers at the scene, potentially improving enforcement and information exchange.
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History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4946
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- 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 increasing penalties and requiring imprisonment for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 49 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
§ 600. Leaving scene of an incident without reporting. 1. Property damage. a. Any person operating a motor vehicle who, knowing or having cause to know that damage has been caused to the real property or to the personal property, not including animals, of another, due to an incident involving the motor vehicle operated by such person shall, before leaving the place where the damage occurred, stop, exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle, when such card is required pursuant to articles six and eight of this chapter, and give his or her name, residence, including street and number, insurance carrier and insurance identification information including but not limited to the number and effective dates of said individual's insurance policy, and license number to the party sustaining the damage, or in case the person sustaining the damage is not present at the place where the damage occurred then he or she shall report the same as soon as physically able to the nearest police station, or judicial officer.
b. It shall be the duty of any member of a law enforcement agency who is at the scene of the [accident] incident to request the said operator or operators of the motor vehicles, when physically capable of doing so, to exchange the information required [hereinabove] in paragraph a of this subdivision and such member of a law enforcement agency shall assist such operator or operators in making such exchange of information in a reasonable and harmonious manner.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07137-01-7
S. 4946 2
A violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision resulting solely from the failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and identification card for the vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of [up to] not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or a sentence of imprisonment for up to fifteen days or both such fine and imprisonment. Any violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision, other than for the mere failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph, shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than fifteen hundred dollars and a sentence of imprisonment of not more than three months, in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
2. Personal injury. a. Any person operating a motor vehicle who, knowing or having cause to know that personal injury has been caused to another person, due to an incident involving the motor vehicle operated by such person shall, before leaving the place where the said personal injury occurred, stop, exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle, when such card is required pursuant to articles six and eight of this chapter, and give his or her name, residence, including street and street number, insurance carrier and insurance identification information including but not limited to the number and effective dates of said individual's insurance policy and license number, to the injured party, if practical, and also to a police officer, or in the event that no police officer is in the vicinity of the place of said injury, then, he or she shall report said incident as soon as physically able to the nearest police station or judicial officer.
b. It shall be the duty of any member of a law enforcement agency who is at the scene of the [accident] incident to request the said operator or operators of the motor vehicles, when physically capable of doing so, to exchange the information required [hereinabove] in paragraph a of this subdivision and such member of a law enforcement agency shall assist such operator or operators in making such exchange of information in a reasonable and harmonious manner.
c. A violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision resulting solely from the failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for the vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph shall constitute a [class B] misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than [two hundred fifty] five hundred nor more than [five hundred] one thousand dollars, and a sentence of imprisonment of not more than one year, in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any subsequent [such] violation shall constitute a [class A misdemeanor] felony punishable by a fine of not less than [five hundred] twenty-five hundred nor more than [one thousand] five thousand dollars, and a sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year, in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision, other than for the mere failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph, shall constitute a [class A misdemeanor] felony, punishable by a fine of not less than [five hundred] one thousand dollars nor more than [one thousand] five thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any such violation committed by a person after such person has previously been convicted of such a violation shall constitute a [class E] felony,
S. 4946 3
punishable by a fine of not less than [one thousand] twenty-five hundred nor more than [two] five thousand five hundred dollars [in addition to any other penalties provided by law], and a sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year, in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision, other than for the mere failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph, where the personal injury involved (i) results in serious physical injury, as defined in section 10.00 of the penal law, shall constitute a [class E] felony, punishable by a fine of not less than [one thousand nor more than] five thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law for a class D felony, or (ii) results in death shall constitute a [class D] felony punishable by a fine of not less than [two] five thousand nor more than [five] ten thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law for a class C felony.
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 600-a to read as follows:
§ 600-a. Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting after consuming an alcoholic beverage or drug; presumption. 1. Any person who violates paragraph a of subdivision one of section six hundred of this article within four hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage or drug as defined in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars and a sentence of imprisonment of not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days, and shall be presumed to have committed the violation to avoid prosecution for a violation of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter.
2. Any person who violates paragraph b of subdivision two of section six hundred of this article within four hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage or drug as defined in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and a sentence of imprisonment for not less than three months nor more than one year, and shall be presumed to have committed the violation to avoid prosecution for a violation of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter.
§ 3. Section 602 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 843 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
§ 602. Arrest for violations of sections six hundred, six hundred-a and six hundred one. A peace officer, acting pursuant to his or her special duties, or a police officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person, in case of violation of section six hundred, section six hundred-a and section six hundred one, which in fact have been committed, though not in his or her presence, when he or she has reasonable cause to believe that the violation was committed by such person.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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 increasing penalties and requiring imprisonment for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
Purpose or general idea of bill
Increases criminal sanctions and fines for traffic law violations in accordance with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting or providing relevant identification information. In addition, creates a new section to recognize leaving the scene of an incident without reporting after consuming an alcoholic beverage or drug.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends section 600 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Establishes penalties and increases fines for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.
Section 2. Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new section 600-a. Establishes penalties for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting after consuming an alcoholic beverage or drug.
Section 3. Amends Section 602 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Makes technical amendments to current statute.
Section 4. Effective Date
Existing law
Vehicle and Traffic Law; Article 22, Section 600; Accidents and Accident Reports; Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
Justification
The purpose of this bill is to further deter any person from violating the regulations of conduct required of them as a licensed driver.
Prior legislative history
2016:S.130- REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION 2015:S.130- REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION 2014:S.562- Referred to Transportation 2013:S.562- Referred to Transportation 2012: S.317 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2011: S.317 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Committee Discharged and Committed to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2010: S.2222 - Referred to Transportation/A.326 - Enacting Clause Stricken 2009: S.2222 - Referred to Transportation/A 326 - Referred to Transportation 2007-08: A.1728 - Referred to Transportation 2005-06: A.4541 - Referred to Transportation 2004: A.10353 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.