What's happening
This bill increases the felony class and fines for leaving the scene of an accident in New York when serious injury or death occurs.
Why it matters
Raises the severity of charges. The bill upgrades the criminal classification for leaving the scene of an accident when serious physical injury occurs (from a class E to a class D felony) and when a death occurs (from a class D to a class C felony), meaning offenders face significantly harsher penalties, including longer potential prison sentences.
Increases financial penalties. The minimum and maximum fines for these offenses are raised, particularly in cases resulting in death, which now carry a minimum fine of $2,000 (up from $1,000) and a maximum of $5,000, signaling a stronger financial deterrent.
Signals a policy shift toward victims’ rights. By imposing stricter penalties, the bill reflects a legislative intent to prioritize accountability and justice for victims of hit-and-run incidents involving serious injury or death, potentially deterring such behavior and offering more recourse to affected families.
May impact plea bargaining and prosecution. With higher felony classes, prosecutors have more leverage in negotiations, and those accused face greater consequences, which could influence how these cases are handled in court and potentially reduce the frequency of offenders fleeing accident scenes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Hit-and-Run Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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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.
Increase Hit-and-Run Penalties
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1575
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- 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 leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 4 of part AAA of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
c. A violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision resulting solely from the failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for the vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph shall constitute a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty nor more than five hundred dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any subsequent such violation shall constitute a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision, other than for the mere failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph, shall constitute a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any such violation committed by a person after such person has previously been convicted of such a violation shall constitute a class E felony, punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Any violation of the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision, other than for the mere failure of an operator to exhibit his or her license and insurance identification
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02946-01-9
S. 1575 2
card for such vehicle or exchange the information required in such paragraph, where the personal injury involved (i) results in serious physical injury, as defined in section 10.00 of the penal law, shall constitute a class [E] D felony, punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand nor more than five thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law, or (ii) results in death shall constitute a class [D] C felony punishable by a fine of not less than two thousand nor more than five thousand dollars in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
§ 2. 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to leaving the scene of an incident without reporting
Purpose
To increase the penalty for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting when there is serious physical injury or death.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 600 of the vehicle and traffic law.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
Leaving the scene of an incident involving serious physical injury or death is now a pervasive problem on our roadways. Most often, the driv- ers who "hit and run" in these instances are actually under the influ- ence of alcohol and/or drugs. By fleeing, alcohol and/or drugs cannot be readily detected as they would be if the driver remained at the scene. Thus, these drivers successfully avoid being arrested for the more seri- ous crimes of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Manslaughter which have a maximum jail sentence of 25 years or 15 years, respective- ly.
Currently, leaving the scene crimes are punishable by a maximum of four years where there is serious physical injury (class E felony) or a maxi- mum of 7 years when a death occurs (class D felony). Elevating the felo- ny class for each of these offenses would make the punishment more commensurate with the crimes.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.7738/A.3927a Referred to Transportation/Referred to Transpor- tation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.