What's happening
This bill makes causing serious injury or death through a moving traffic violation a misdemeanor with increased penalties in New York.
Why it matters
Raises the legal consequences for drivers. By making serious injury or death from a moving violation a misdemeanor, the bill increases accountability for drivers whose actions cause major harm, closing a gap where such offenses might otherwise be treated as minor infractions.
Mandatory accident prevention education. Offenders must complete a motor vehicle accident prevention course, aiming not just to punish, but to educate and potentially reduce repeat offenses, which could improve overall road safety.
Broader deterrence effect. By attaching criminal penalties (including possible jail time) and higher fines to these violations, the law seeks to deter reckless or negligent driving, encouraging drivers to be more cautious and attentive.
Addresses public demand for justice. The bill responds to concerns from victims’ families and road safety advocates who argue that current penalties for causing injury or death through traffic violations are insufficient, signaling a shift toward stricter enforcement and recognition of the severity of such incidents.
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Who cares
Drivers
A covered moving violation that causes serious bodily injury or death would carry misdemeanor penalties of a fine of at least $300, up to 30 days in jail, or both, plus mandatory accident prevention training.
People seriously injured in crashes and families of those killed
The bill would impose misdemeanor penalties when a covered moving violation causes serious bodily injury or death.
Traffic prosecutors and defense attorneys
The bill would make traffic infractions involving moving violations under ordinances, orders, rules or regulations adopted pursuant to Title Seven misdemeanors when they cause serious bodily injury or death.
Motor vehicle accident prevention course providers
People convicted under the new provision would be required to complete an accident prevention course.
Headline styles
Increase Penalties for Dangerous Driving
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
11 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Tougher Penalties for Dangerous Driving
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Rich Funke
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5407
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, LUPARDO, STECK, HUNTER, KOLB, HAWLEY, DiPIETRO, STIRPE, BLANKENBUSH, BYRNES -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, GIGLIO, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the penalty for a moving violation which results in the serious bodily injury or death of another person
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1800 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision (i) to read as follows:
(i) Every person convicted of a traffic infraction for a violation of any ordinance, order, rule or regulation adopted pursuant to title seven of this chapter which involves a moving violation with a motor vehicle, where such violation results in the serious bodily injury or death of another person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable by a fine of no less than three hundred dollars, or imprisonment of not more than thirty days or both such fine and imprisonment, and the completion of a motor vehicle accident prevention course, as defined by article twelve-B of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07114-01-9
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.