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A3985Assembly2019-2020 SessionSame asS2508

Criminalize Staged Car Crashes

Official title

“Creates the crime of staging a motor vehicle accident”

Sponsor David WeprinAD-24+3 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
4/10
Low
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill, known as "Alice's Law," creates two new felonies for intentionally staging motor vehicle accidents to commit insurance fraud, with harsher penalties if serious injury or death occurs.

Why it matters

  1. Targets intentional insurance fraud. By criminalizing the act of deliberately causing car accidents to commit insurance fraud, the bill aims to deter a costly and dangerous form of white-collar crime that can drive up insurance premiums for all drivers.

  2. Creates harsher penalties for resulting harm. The distinction between “second degree” (any staged crash) and “first degree” (if someone not involved is seriously injured or killed) recognizes the heightened risk to innocent people and imposes stricter consequences accordingly.

  3. Addresses public safety risks. Staged crashes not only defraud insurance companies but also put bystanders, emergency responders, and unsuspecting motorists at risk, making this legislation relevant for broader community safety beyond financial concerns.

  4. May aid law enforcement and prosecution. By defining these acts as specific felonies, the law gives police and prosecutors clearer tools to charge and convict offenders, potentially improving deterrence and conviction rates in these complex fraud cases.

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Who cares

  • Auto insurers

    The bill would make intentionally causing a motor vehicle collision to further insurance fraud a class E felony.

  • Drivers and passengers

    Staged crashes that cause serious physical injury or death to someone not participating in the offense would carry a higher, class D felony charge.

  • Prosecutors and law enforcement

    The bill would create two specific offenses for staging motor vehicle accidents, distinguished by whether a nonparticipant suffers serious physical injury or death.

Headline styles

Criminalize Staged Car Crashes

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

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
David Weprin

Assembly Member · Assembly District 24

Chair, Insurance

History

  1. Signed chap.151
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to assembly
  4. Passed senateVote 62–0
  5. 3rd reading cal.805
  6. Substituted for S2508
  7. Referred to codes
  8. Delivered to senate
  9. Passed assembly
  10. Advanced to third reading cal.241
  11. Reported
  12. 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.

S2508Senate

Outlaw Fake Car Crashes

Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Anna Kaplan

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

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

STATE OF NEW YORK

3985

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 31, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, MOSLEY, OTIS, BUCHWALD -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, ABINANTI, ARROYO, BARCLAY, COLTON, COOK, CROUCH, DINOWITZ, FINCH, GALEF, GIGLIO, GOODELL, GUNTHER, HAWLEY, LALOR, LAVINE, MALLIOTAKIS, McDONOUGH, MONTESANO, NOLAN, PALMESANO, PERRY, RAIA, RIVERA, SOLAGES, TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes

AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to staging a motor vehicle accident

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 "Alice's Law".

§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding two new sections 176.75 and 176.80 to read as follows: § 176.75 Staging a motor vehicle accident in the second degree.

A person is guilty of staging a motor vehicle accident in the second degree when, with intent to commit and in furtherance of a fraudulent insurance act, he or she operates a motor vehicle and intentionally causes a collision involving a motor vehicle.

Staging a motor vehicle accident in the second degree is a class E felony. § 176.80 Staging a motor vehicle accident in the first degree.

A person is guilty of staging a motor vehicle accident in the first degree when he or she commits the offense of staging a motor vehicle accident in the second degree and thereby causes serious physical injury or death to another person, other than a participant in such offense.

Staging a motor vehicle accident in the first degree is a class D felony.

§ 3. 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.

LBD07501-01-9

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.