Senate bill · S10511 (2025-26)
Establishes the crime of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle resulting in death
New York State Senate
Summary
Enacts the "Bryant Ortiz act"; establishes the crime of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle resulting in death when such person operates a motor vehicle upon a public highway without a valid license or in violation of the conditions of a learner's permit or any other limited driving privilege, including conditional and restricted use licenses, and in the course of such unlawful operation commits a traffic infraction or engages in negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and such operation results in the death of another person; makes it a class E felony.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To establish enhanced criminal penalties in cases where an individual unlawfully operating a motor vehicle, including outside the conditions of a learner's permit or other restricted driving privilege, engages in negligent or unlawful driving conduct and a fatality occurs.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Transportation · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Transportation · New York State Senate.
The sponsor's argument
Why Monica Martinez says this is needed
This legislation is in honor of Bryant Ortiz, a 32-year old EMT from Brentwood who was tragically killed in a motorcycle crash in Suffolk County in 2024, involving an adult driver who was operating a vehicle outside the conditions of a learner's permit at the time of the inci- dent. Bryant served his community through both the Bay Shore Brightwa- ters Rescue Ambulance and the Brentwood Legion Ambulance and was widely remembered for his dedication to helping others. Under current law, aggravated unlicensed operation offenses largely focus on drivers with suspended or revoked licenses. This bill seeks to address the gap where unlawful operation under a learner's permit or other restricted driving privilege, combined with negligent operation or another traffic infraction, leads to the death of another person. This legislation strengthens accountability for unlawful and dangerous vehi- cle operation in cases involving drivers operating outside lawful driv- ing privileges and helps ensure greater accountability in cases involv- ing preventable loss of life.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- May 15, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate