BILL NUMBER: S931A
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing
the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving an electric
scooter without reporting in the first and second degrees and creating
the offenses of leaving the scene of an accident involving a bicycle
with electric assist without reporting in the first and second degrees
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would make the penalties for leaving the scene of a
crash involving an electric scooter and electric bicycle without report-
ing consistent with the penalties for leaving the scene of an automobile
crash.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 2 of section 1287 of the vehi-
cle and traffic law to make leaving the scene of an incident involving
an electric scooter without reporting in the second degree a class A
misdemeanor.
Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 2 of section 1288 of the vehi-
cle and traffic law to make leaving the scene of an incident involving
an electric scooter without reporting without reporting in the first
degree a class E felony.
Section 3 of the bill adds two new sections to the vehicle and traffic
law to establish penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involv-
ing a bicycle with electric assist without reporting in the first and
second degrees, which are a class A misdemeanor and class E felony
respectively.
Section 4 of the bill provides that the act shall take effect immediate-
ly.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
There have been several recent incidents in New York State of electric
scooter drivers and electric bike riders hitting and seriously injuring
a pedestrian, and then fleeing the scene of the crash without reporting.
Although electric scooters and electric bikes don't travel as fast or
weigh nearly as much as automobiles, they still certainly have the capa-
bility to knock a pedestrian down and cause serious injury, including
lacerations, broken bones, or head trauma.
Our current penalties for leaving the scene of an automobile crash are
based upon the seriousness of the injury inflicted upon the injured
party. Accordingly, it is appropriate that electric scooter and electric
bike crashes are held to the same standard as automobile crashes.
Although electric scooter crashes and electric bike crashes are often
not as injurious as automobile crashes, in the cases where they are, the
offending party should be properly held accountable for their actions in
the event that they flee the scene.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.561 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman): Died in Transportation
A.1679 of 2023-2024 (Rosenthal): Died in Transportation
S.7212 of 2021-2022 (Hoylman): Died in Transportation
A.8128 of 2021-2022 (Rosenthal): Died in Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S931: 1287 vehicle and traffic law, 1287(2) vehicle and traffic law, 1288 vehicle and traffic law, 1288(2) vehicle and traffic law
S931A: 1287 vehicle and traffic law, 1287(2) vehicle and traffic law, 1288 vehicle and traffic law, 1288(2) vehicle and traffic law