BILL NUMBER: S9915
SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to injury of
domestic and companion animals by motorists
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase the penalties for reckless driving that results in the inju-
ry or loss of a pet.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends Section 1146 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to add
the term "companion animal" to the criteria of victims that are included
under this section. Defines the term "companion animal" as any dog or
cat or any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the house-
hold of the owner.
Section two amends Section 601 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to
increase levels of penalties for first and subsequent offenses when
leaving the scene of an injury to certain animals.
Section three establishes the effective date of the bill.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Recent reporting in the New York Times laid bare the fact that under the
law, killing a pet with a motor vehicle results in a fine equivalent to
an illegal u-turn.
As New York has seen an increase in the number of pets rise to nearly
half of every household, the risk that one of them is killed from reck-
less driving increases as well. The current amount that is fined for
first and subsequent offenses is not enough to be an effective deterrent
for drivers to remain safe in areas with household pets. With over 1.1
million household dogs and cats in New York City alone there must be
more substantial penalties to protect pets that more than 50% of people
consider members of their families.
This legislation includes pets under the law, as it currently does for
pedestrians, cyclists, sheep, cattle and goats, when a driver fails to
exercise due care. It also increases fines when a driver leaves the
scene of injury to an animal without reporting the incident.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become law.

Statutes affected:
S9915: 1146 vehicle and traffic law, 601 vehicle and traffic law