What's happening
This bill creates the crime of "official interference with transportation," making it a felony for public servants to intentionally disrupt transportation in New York.
Why it matters
Raises stakes for public servants. By making it a felony for public officials to intentionally disrupt transportation, the bill significantly increases legal accountability for actions or inactions that interfere with the movement of people and goods across the state.
Covers both action and inaction. The law targets not just unauthorized, intentional acts that block or slow transportation, but also instances where officials knowingly fail to perform required duties, broadening the scope of potential liability.
Protects essential infrastructure. By specifically naming roadways, highways, bridges, railways, waterways, and airways, the bill aims to safeguard critical transportation systems from disruption by those in positions of authority, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted transit for public safety and economic stability.
Potential impact on official decision-making. The threat of felony charges could influence how public servants handle protests, emergencies, or other scenarios involving transportation—possibly deterring both misconduct and, conversely, cautious or necessary interventions that could later be scrutinized as interference.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Felony for Officials Blocking Transit
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Punish Officials Blocking Transit
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6229
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the offense of official interference with transportation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 195.03 to read as follows: § 195.03 Official interference with transportation.
A public servant is guilty of official interference with transportation when, with intent to impede, hamper, stall or otherwise interfere with the ordinary progress of any form of transportation on, in or through the roadways, highways, bridges, railways, waterways or airways of the state, he or she:
1. commits an act constituting an unauthorized exercise of his or her official functions, knowing that such act is unauthorized; or
2. knowingly refrains from performing an official duty imposed upon him or her, or is clearly inherent in the nature of his or her public office.
Official interference with transportation is a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02557-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to estab- lishing the offense of official interference with transportation
Purpose
Establishes the class E felony of official interference with transporta- tion.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the penal law by adding a new section 195.03.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
This legislation, creating a new felony crime, will act as an incentive for public employees to not interfere with the flow of traffic so that state and local roadways, waterways, railways, and airways will be easi- er, faster, and safer to navigate for the public.
Legislative history
2017: S.6229 - Referred to Codes / S.8395 - Referred to Codes 2016: S.4584 - Referred to Codes 2015: S.4584 - Referred to Codes 2014: S.6708 - Referred to Codes,
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.