Relates to penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving a death

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Dean Murray says this is needed

This law is named in memory of Nicholas Puzio, of Farmingville, NY. Nicholas "Nick" was a 25 year old young man who was horrifically killed in a pedestrian crosswalk by two separate hit and run drivers in Patc- hogue, New York on March 12, 2023. Nick tragically lost his life due to the reckless choices made by two different drivers while he was attempting to cross the road. Both the drivers failed to yield to Nick and both drivers left the scene of the accident after causing this fatality as they tried to escape the conse- quences of their actions. Nick's Law will increase penalties for drivers who commit such atroci- ties, elevating the crime of hit and run that results in a death to the crime of vehicular manslaughter, a Class B felony, ensuring that justice can be served to the victim and their survivors. Nick's Law also will ensure that drivers, regardless of their age, are cognizant that hit and run incidents like the one that killed Nick, where a death is involved, are particularly heinous crimes and will not be tolerated under our justice system. This new law will effectively reduce the extent of acquittals and the lessening of sentences in our legal system for hit and run crimes like this where there is a resultant death. This will ensure that justice for victims and their loved ones is achievable in such cases.

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.