What's happening
This bill creates a new class C felony for unauthorized use of commercial or municipal vehicles without proper consent or license.
Why it matters
Raises the legal stakes for vehicle misuse. By making unauthorized use of commercial or municipal vehicles a class C felony, the bill significantly increases the potential penalties—meaning those convicted could face years in prison, not just minor fines or misdemeanors.
Targets both improper access and unlicensed operation. The law specifically addresses not just stealing or joyriding, but also situations where someone operates a commercial vehicle without proper licensing, which is crucial for public safety given the risks involved with these larger or specialized vehicles.
Protects public and municipal resources. Municipal and public authority vehicles are often critical for services like emergency response, sanitation, and maintenance. The bill aims to deter unauthorized use that could disrupt vital services or lead to costly damages for cities and towns.
Potential impact on employment and business practices. Commercial drivers and employers will need to be especially vigilant about who has access to vehicles, as unauthorized use can now result in severe criminal charges. This could lead to tighter controls, background checks, or new policies within companies and municipal departments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Unauthorized Vehicle Use
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2515
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the crime of unauthorized use of a commercial or municipal vehicle
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 165.01 to read as follows: § 165.01 Unauthorized use of a commercial or municipal vehicle.
A person is guilty of unauthorized use of a commercial or municipal vehicle when, knowing that he or she does not have the consent of the owner or person authorized to grant such permission, he or she takes, operates, exercises control over, rides in, or otherwise uses (a) a commercial vehicle that he or she is not licensed to operate; or (b) a vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise in the control of a municipality or public authority.
Unauthorized use of a commercial or municipal vehicle is a class C felony.
§ 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.
LBD00301-01-9
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.