What's happening
This bill establishes a "yellow alert system" to quickly notify the public about hit-and-run incidents causing death or serious injury.
Why it matters
Empowers law enforcement with a rapid-response tool. to enlist the public’s help in finding hit-and-run drivers, potentially increasing the chances of quick apprehension and justice for victims.
Establishes clear criteria and safeguards. for when an alert can be issued, requiring not only a death or serious injury, but also specific, actionable information about the suspect or vehicle—helping to avoid overuse or unnecessary public alarm.
Leverages existing communication channels. (like digital road signs and the media) to quickly spread critical information, aiming to mobilize community vigilance and assistance without mandating new burdens on broadcasters.
Signals increased seriousness and accountability. for hit-and-run crimes, which could deter would-be offenders and provide some reassurance to victims' families that swift action will be taken.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Hit-and-Run Alert System
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1375
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the creation of a yellow alert system to be activated when a hit and run has resulted in death or serious injury
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 22-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 22-A
YELLOW ALERT SYSTEM
Section 620. Short title.
621. Definitions.
622. Procedure.
§ 620. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "yellow alert system".
§ 621. Definitions. As used in this article: 1. "Yellow alert" shall mean a notification system, activated pursuant to section six hundred twenty-two of this article, designed to coordinate alerts with respect to a hit and run incident resulting in the death or injury of a person as described in subdivision four of section six hundred twenty-two of this article.
2. "Hit and run" shall mean when a driver of a vehicle who is involved in a collision with another vehicle, property or human being, knowingly fails to stop to give his or her name, license number, and other information as required by section six hundred of this title.
§ 622. Procedure. 1. If a hit and run incident is reported to a law enforcement agency, and that agency determines that the requirements of subdivision four of this section are met, the agency may request the New York state police to activate a yellow alert. If the New York state
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07119-01-9
S. 1375 2
police concurs that the requirements of subdivision four of this section are met, it shall activate a yellow alert within the geographic area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency.
2. Radio, television, and cable and satellite systems are encouraged, but are not required, to cooperate with disseminating the information contained in a yellow alert.
3. Upon activation of a yellow alert, the New York state police shall assist the investigating law enforcement agency by issuing the yellow alert via a local digital sign.
4. A law enforcement agency may request that a yellow alert be activated if that agency determines that the following conditions are met in regard to the investigation of the hit and run incident:
a. A person has been killed or has suffered serious bodily injury due to a hit and run incident;
b. The investigating law enforcement agency has additional information concerning the suspect or the suspect's vehicle, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) The complete license plate number of the suspect's vehicle;
(ii) A partial license plate number and the make, model, and color of the suspect's vehicle;
(iii) The identity of the suspect; and
c. Public dissemination of available information could either help avert further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the creation of a yellow alert system to be activated when a hit and run has resulted in death or serious injury
Purpose
This legislation would create a yellow alert system to be activated when a hit and run has resulted in death or serious injury; similar to the amber alert or silver alert systems.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds article 22-A which creates the Yellow Alert System
Section two contains the effective date
Justification
The Yellow Alert System would be modeled after the current Amber Alert System. In order to help law enforcement agencies track down suspects in hit-and-run accidents where someone was killed or seriously injured this system could make all the difference. To utilize the system, the inves- tigating agency has to have some very specific information such as, full or partial license plate, description of the vehicle or the identity of the suspect. While many hit-and-run cases are hard to solve because a suspect flees the scene and little is known about the vehicle involved; the creation of this system may encourage witnesses to stay on the scene or contact law enforcement with information that could be used to track down the suspect.
While the Yellow Alert System would be useful in catching criminals, the hope would be that it would also deter those involved in an accident from fleeing the scene. If the public knows that they could potentially be found out because their information is going to be broadcast, then maybe they will rethink fleeing.
California adopted this system in the 2015 Legislative cycle. Denver, Colorado implemented a hit-and-run system in 2012 that led to a 76t arrest rate in cases in which the authorities activated the alert. Due to its success in Denver, Colorado lawmakers expanded it statewide.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
TBD
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.