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A3194Assembly2019-2020 Session

Harsher Penalties for Unlicensed Drivers

Official title

“Relates to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree”

Sponsor Aileen GuntherAD-100+3 co-sponsorsAffects Transportation
Status
In Assembly Committee
Transportation
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Transportation

What's happening

The bill, "Teresita's law," makes it aggravated unlicensed operation if a person drives negligently and causes a death while their license is suspended.

Why it matters

  1. Increases accountability for drivers with suspended licenses. by making them eligible for harsher criminal penalties if they cause a death through negligent driving, elevating the seriousness of driving while unlicensed.

  2. Targets a legal gap. where, previously, causing a fatality while driving with a suspended license might not have led to aggravated charges unless other aggravating factors (like intoxication) were present.

  3. Acts as a deterrent. by sending a strong message that driving without a valid license and causing harm can result in significant criminal consequences, potentially reducing repeat offenses.

  4. Prioritizes public safety and victim justice. by ensuring that families affected by fatal crashes involving unlicensed drivers see more serious charges pursued in such cases.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Harsher Penalties for Unlicensed Drivers

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Aileen Gunther

Assembly Member · Assembly District 100

History

  1. Referred to transportation
  2. Referred to transportation

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3194

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 28, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, COOK, RIVERA, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HAWLEY, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Teresita's law".

§ 2. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 511 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 169 of the laws of 2013, is amended and a new subparagraph (v) is added to read as follows:

(iv) operates a motor vehicle upon a public highway while holding a conditional license issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision seven of section eleven hundred ninety-six of this chapter while under the influence of alcohol or a drug in violation of subdivision one, two, two-a, three, four, four-a or five of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter[.]; or

(v) commits the offense of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree as defined in subdivision one of this section; and while operating such vehicle negligently causes the death of another person.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00312-01-9

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.