BILL NUMBER: S2004
SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
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 second degree and leaving the scene of
an accident involving an electric scooter without reporting in the first
degree and providing increased penalties for leaving the scene of an
accident involving a wheeled non-motorized means of conveyance without
reporting in the first and second degrees when the vehicle involved is a
bicycle with an electric assist system
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would make the penalties for leaving the scene of a
crash involving an electric scooter or an electric bicycle without
reporting 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 a new subdivision to section 1240 of the
vehicle and traffic law to make leaving the scene of an incident involv-
ing a a bicycle with electric assist without reporting in the second
degree a class A misdemeanor.
Section 4 of the bill adds a new subdivision to section 1241 of the
vehicle and traffic law to make leaving the scene of an incident involv-
ing an a bicycle with electric assist without reporting in the first
degree a class E felony
Section 5 of the bill provides for the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters become more
prevalent on our streets, there has been a serious uptick in incidents
involving users causing damage or injury to property or other persons,
including cases where the vehicle operator leaves the scene of the inci-
dent. Current laws around leaving the scene of a crash involving an
electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist treat this as a lesser
offense than leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle.
This bill ensures that regardless of what vehicle causes damage, injures
or kills someone, the penalty is based on the level of damage, injury or
death rather than the type of motorized vehicle. This bill is needed so
the consequences of leaving the scene of an incident match the serious-
ness of the event.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.1246/A.9048 - Referred to Committee
2021-22: S.7296 Referred to Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become law.

Statutes affected:
S2004: 1287 vehicle and traffic law, 1287(2) vehicle and traffic law, 1288 vehicle and traffic law, 1288(2) vehicle and traffic law, 1240 vehicle and traffic law, 1241 vehicle and traffic law