What's happening
The bill makes it a class E felony to have five separate license suspensions from five different point-related driving infractions.
Why it matters
Significantly raises the stakes for repeat traffic offenders. by making it a felony, not just a traffic violation or misdemeanor, for those with five separate license suspensions due to point-related infractions—meaning habitual dangerous drivers could face prison time and a lasting criminal record.
Targets persistent unsafe driving behavior. rather than isolated incidents, signaling a shift in policy from administrative penalties (like license suspension) to criminal prosecution for those who repeatedly endanger others on the road.
Could impact employment and social prospects. for affected individuals, as a class E felony conviction can limit job opportunities, professional licenses, and access to certain government programs, in addition to the penalties imposed by the court.
May serve as a deterrent and public safety measure. by creating stronger consequences for serial violators, potentially reducing the number of repeat dangerous drivers and related accidents on New York roads.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Felony for Repeated Traffic Suspensions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2731
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing that five different license suspensions shall constitute a class E felony
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. Any person who has had five different suspensions of his or her driver's license resulting from convictions of five individual point-related infractions for a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any local law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or administrative code provision adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04678-01-9
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.