What's happening
This bill increases penalties for leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury, including higher fines and upgraded misdemeanor and felony charges.
Why it matters
Raises the stakes for all drivers. By increasing both the classification of offenses (e.g., from class B to class A misdemeanors, and from class E to class C felonies) and the fines, the bill aims to make leaving the scene of an accident with injury a much riskier legal proposition, which could deter people from fleeing.
Targets repeat offenders. Now, anyone convicted of leaving the scene of an accident with injury who does it again faces a felony charge (class E), making it much more consequential for repeat violations and potentially resulting in longer prison terms and higher fines.
Recognizes severity of injuries. The law distinguishes between "serious physical injury" (now a class C felony) and death (remains a class D felony), with both categories seeing increased fines, reflecting a policy decision to more severely penalize incidents resulting in greater harm.
Could influence insurance and public safety. Higher penalties and upgraded charges may lead to increased liability for offenders, potentially affecting their insurance premiums and records, while also signaling to the public that New York is prioritizing road safety and accountability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Hit-and-Run Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2861
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the penalty for leaving the scene of an incident resulting in a personal injury
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 4 of part AAA of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
c. [A] Any 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] A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than [two] five hundred [fifty] nor more than [five hundred] one thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. [Any subsequent such violation shall constitute a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars 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, punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one 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, punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00125-01-9
A. 2861 2
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] C 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, or (ii) results in death shall constitute a class D felony punishable by a fine of not less than two thousand nor more than five thousand dollars 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.
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.