Enacts the "vehicular violence accountability act"

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jeremy Cooney says this is needed

A report from a Grand Jury of the Supreme Court, First Judicial District, found that vehicular violence was an epidemic in New York City, yet the tools available to prosecutors to bring drivers to justice was found to be insufficient, due to a high burden of proof, which prevents prosecutors from bringing charges for crimes that exist in the penal law. (1) This Grand Jury took an extensive look into recent acci- dents involving pedestrians and bicyclists who were struck by a vehicle and either was seriously injured or killed. Particular attention was given to children and to seniors since traffic threats pose a signif- icant threat to NYC children, while senior citizens make up of NYC s pedestrian deaths but 13% of its population. (2) As a result of the investigation, the Grand Jury issued recommendations for the New York City and New York State governments to follow. One of these recommendations came out of a fear that prosecutorial tools avail- able were too weak to match the seriousness of the offense, and addi- tional penalties were recommended to deter the conduct of aggressive, drivers. (3) As a result, the Grand Jury issued recommendations to strengthen offenses applicable to vehicular collisions, including model legislation drafted by the Manhattan's District Attorney to curb the incidents examined by the Grand Jury. (4) This bill reflects the recom- mendations of the Grand Jury, with support from the Manhattan District Attorney, to create new offenses that will give prosecutors the tools they need to properly prosecute vehicular violence, while protecting bicyclists and pedestrians across the state .

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.