Bill > S04185

This bill amends the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law to increase penalties for leaving the scene of an accident without reporting. Specifically, the bill changes the classification of certain violations from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony, which means more serious legal consequences for offenders. The changes apply to situations where an operator fails to report an accident involving personal injury, with different penalty levels depending on the severity of the injury. For incidents resulting in serious physical injury, the violation becomes a class E felony with a fine range of $1,000 to $5,000, and for accidents resulting in death, it becomes a class D felony with a fine range of $2,000 to $5,000. The bill also updates gender-neutral language, replacing "his or her" with "their" throughout the text. The changes will take effect on the first of November following the bill's passage into law, aiming to create stronger deterrents and accountability for drivers who leave accident scenes without reporting.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4185