Albany, NY – A new bill in Albany would crack down on drivers who carelessly strike bicyclists and pedestrians.
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The proposal would raise the sentence for a first offense to a $750 fine and up to 15 days in jail. A second offense could result in a misdemeanor charge.
The proposal by Democratic Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (KAV-uh-naw) would build on the law passed over a year ago called Hayley and Diego’s Law for the children killed in a 2009 crash in New York City’s Chinatown.
The state legislators from Manhattan say the current law has a flaw. Right now, the law requires a police officer to witness the crash.
The bill would require only that an officer has reasonable cause to believe the law was broken.
How about cracking down on bicyclists & pedestrians who cross with complete disregard to oncoming traffic, right-of-ways etc.
Why isn’t this a crime the first time you do it?
What about the bicycle riders who recklessly ride into traffic against the light? I nearly killed someone yesterday in Boro Park. Are they going to get fined?
The bikers are the reckless ones.
Try driving anywhere bedstuy and bushwick without having a person cross recklessly out of nowhere with ear phones blasting even if you honk they ignore.
I hope these senators find regular jobs and leave us alone with their stupidity
This is insane!! This will make law abiding citizens rot in jail for energy conserving reasons!!
The cyclists zigzag in and out of traffic so how are you supposed to drive carefully!! Take the cyclists off the road and ticket them!! Weren’t they supposed to get licenses?? So where are they??? Ticket them for not having a license!!
As someone who has spent many years on a bicycle and drives a car, I’ve seen both sides.
There are some drivers who are careless and endanger cyclists (sometimes apparently deliberately) and there cyclists who are careless and endanger themselves and others.
The most careless and dangerous thing that a driver can do is to fail to signal. The driver may not notice the cyclist, and the cyclist doesn’t realize the car is about to turn resulting in tragedy.
DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS SIGNAL IN ADVANCE OF A TURN!!!!
Both sides are right, they are both equally irresponsible at times. Both sides have reckless scofflaws riding around. Would you suggest street justice for those that can’t get with the program?