BILL NUMBER: S3639
SPONSOR: MURRAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the criminal procedure
law, in relation to increasing penalties for leaving the scene of an
accident without reporting
 
PURPOSE:
To enact "Nick's Law" in relation to increasing penalties and fines for
leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides that the title of this act shall be known as "Nick's
Law."
Section 2 amends paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 600 of the
vehicle and traffic law to increase the penalty and fine for hit and run
crimes from a Class D felony to a Class B felony when there is a death
of a victim.
Sections 3 through 5 amends various sections of the criminal procedure
law to provide that a hit and run accident resulting in a death of a
victim shall be a Class B felony crime for drivers of all ages.
Section 6 provides for an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This law is named in memory of Nicholas Puzio, of Farmingville, NY.
Nicholas "Nick" was a 25 year old young man who was horrifically killed
in a pedestrian crosswalk by two separate hit and run drivers in Patc-
hogue, New York on March 12, 2023.
Nick tragically lost his life due to the reckless choices made by two
different drivers while he was attempting to cross the road. Both the
drivers failed to yield to Nick and both drivers left the scene of the
accident after causing this fatality as they tried to escape the conse-
quences of their actions.
Nick's Law will increase penalties for drivers who commit such atroci-
ties, elevating the crime of hit and run that results in a death to the
crime of vehicular manslaughter, a Class B felony, ensuring that justice
can be served to the victim and their survivors. Nick's Law also will
ensure that drivers, regardless of their age, are cognizant that hit and
run incidents like the one that killed Nick, where a death is involved,
are particularly heinous crimes and will not be tolerated under our
justice system.
This new law will effectively reduce the extent of acquittals and the
lessening of sentences in our legal system for hit and run crimes like
this where there is a resultant death. This will ensure that justice for
victims and their loved ones is achievable in such cases.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: 56051 Reported and committed to Codes
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

Statutes affected:
S3639: 600 vehicle and traffic law, 600(2) vehicle and traffic law, 722.23 criminal procedure law, 722.23(2) criminal procedure law