What's happening
This bill expands vehicular assault and manslaughter laws to include unlicensed drivers who cause serious injury or death.
Why it matters
Holds unlicensed drivers criminally liable. The bill adds specific provisions making it a criminal offense if someone without a valid driver’s license causes serious injury or death while operating a motor vehicle, putting unlicensed drivers on par with intoxicated or reckless drivers in terms of legal consequences.
Closes a prosecutorial gap. Previously, causing harm while unlicensed didn’t always trigger assault or manslaughter charges unless other aggravating factors (like intoxication) were present; this amendment ensures unlicensed drivers can be charged with these serious crimes based solely on their lack of license and the resulting harm.
Strengthens deterrence and accountability. By elevating the legal risks for unlicensed driving that results in injury or death, the bill aims to deter people from driving without a license and increases the accountability for those who do, potentially improving road safety.
Aligns with public safety concerns. The change responds to concerns that unlicensed drivers are often involved in severe or fatal accidents, addressing calls from victims’ families and advocates for stricter consequences when licensing laws are violated with tragic results.
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Who cares
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Tougher Penalties for Unlicensed Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to codes
- 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.
Toughen Unlicensed Driver Penalties
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Phil Boyle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6150
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to vehicular assault and vehicular manslaughter
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 120.03 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 732 of the laws of 2006, is amended and a new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
(3) operates a snowmobile in violation of paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subdivision one of section 25.24 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law or operates an all terrain vehicle as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section twenty-two hundred eighty-one of the vehicle and traffic law and in violation of subdivision two, three, four, or four-a of section eleven hundred ninety-two of the vehicle and traffic law, and as a result of such intoxication or impairment by the use of a drug, or by the combined influence of drugs or of alcohol and any drug or drugs, operates such snowmobile or all terrain vehicle in a manner that causes such serious physical injury to such other person[.], or
(4) operates a motor vehicle without having been licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state of New York, and while operating said motor vehicle causes serious physical injury to another person.
§ 2. Subdivisions 5 and 6 of section 125.13 of the penal law, subdivision 5 as amended and subdivision 6 as added by chapter 496 of the laws of 2009, are amended and a new subdivision 7 is added to read as follows:
(5) has previously been convicted of violating any provision of this article or article one hundred twenty of this title involving the operation of a motor vehicle, or was convicted in any other state or jurisdiction of an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle which,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04383-01-9
A. 6150 2
if committed in this state, would constitute a violation of this article or article one hundred twenty of this title; [or]
(6) commits such crime while operating a motor vehicle while a child who is fifteen years of age or less is a passenger in such motor vehicle and causes the death of such child[.]; or
(7) operates a motor vehicle without having been licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state of New York, and while operating said motor vehicle causes the death of another person.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 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.