Bill > A03344

This bill, known as "Nick's law", increases penalties for leaving the scene of an accident that results in a death, specifically modifying existing vehicle and traffic law and criminal procedure law. The bill changes the classification of leaving the scene of a fatal accident from a class D felony to a class B felony, with significantly increased financial penalties from a range of two to five thousand dollars to a flat thirty thousand dollar fine. The legislation also updates several legal procedures related to how such cases are handled, particularly for adolescent offenders. Notably, the bill expands legal provisions to treat leaving the scene of a fatal accident as a more serious offense in various legal contexts, such as potential transfer of cases to family court. The bill uses gender-neutral language, replacing "his or her" with "their" throughout the text. Additionally, the bill modifies criminal procedure law to include leaving the scene of a fatal accident as a specific type of offense that receives special legal consideration, particularly in cases involving younger defendants. The changes aim to create more stringent consequences for individuals who flee the scene of a fatal traffic accident, potentially serving as a deterrent and providing enhanced legal mechanisms for prosecution.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3344