What's happening
This bill classifies killing or seriously injuring a companion animal while recklessly operating a motor vehicle as aggravated animal cruelty.
Why it matters
Expands legal accountability. for drivers: By including reckless vehicle operation that kills or seriously injures pets as aggravated animal cruelty, the bill could lead to more criminal charges against drivers who harm animals due to risky driving behavior.
Elevates the status of companion animals in law. Treating harm to pets from reckless driving the same as intentional cruelty underscores the legal and social importance of companion animals as valued household members.
Potentially increases penalties and deterrence. Those found guilty under this expanded definition face harsher consequences, which may deter reckless driving in areas where pets are present and encourage more careful behavior.
Bridges a legal gap. Previously, only intentional harm or especially cruel acts were prosecuted as aggravated cruelty; this amendment ensures that negligent yet harmful actions are also taken seriously, giving pet owners additional legal recourse.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Reckless Driving Hurts Pets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1507
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to including reckless operation of a motor vehicle resulting in the death or serious injury of a companion animal as aggravated animal cruelty
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, [he or she] such person: (a) intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain; or (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner; or
(b) causes the death or causes serious physical injury to a companion animal while recklessly operating a motor vehicle.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04393-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to includ- ing reckless operation of a motor vehicle resulting in the death or serious injury of a companion animal as aggravated animal cruelty
Purpose or general idea of bill
To establish a crime for killing or injuring a companion animal while recklessly operating a motor vehicle.
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation amends the current crime of aggravated cruelty to animals to include acts that cause the death or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal while recklessly operating a motor vehicle.
Justification
Companion animals provide unconditional love to the families to which they belong. They are often thought of as members of the family, which makes their injury or death extremely traumatic to those who love them.
On August 18, 2018 at approximately 8:45 AM in the Town of Horseheads, two companion dogs, Molly and Lucy, while being walked on leashes by their owner were struck and killed by a reckless driver. Thankfully, their owner escaped physical harm but the traumatic loss of his two beloved dogs was a very sad event. Unfortunately, there was no adequate penalty for the deaths caused by the driver other than a traffic summons.
This bill makes such acts a class E felony.
Prior legislative history
2017: S8080
2019: S935
2021: S5445
2023: S2183
Fiscal implications
None.
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.