State Legislature
Streetsblog Basics
Succeeding Where Albany Failed, Pennsylvania Strengthens Hit-and-Run Law
Legislators in Pennsylvania this year did what Albany lawmakers could not: addressed a loophole in state law that gives hit-and-run drivers an incentive to leave the scene of a serious crash. But the arduous task of getting a bill to the desk of Governor Tom Corbett exemplifies the difficulty in holding reckless motorists accountable, even when they take lives.
July 11, 2012
Albany 2012: Lawmakers Strike Out on Safe Streets and Transit
Albany lawmakers had several opportunities during the 2012 session to come through for transit riders, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. They came up short on every count.
June 26, 2012
Albany Unlikely to OK Speed Cameras This Year
The state legislature will not allow New York City to enforce its speed limit using automated cameras this session, say street safety advocates. Though the New York Times touted the legislation's forward momentum in an article yesterday, the bill is unlikely to pass the Assembly before the legislative session closes this week.
June 20, 2012
Bid to Lift NYPD Ban on Careless Driving Tickets Clears Senate Committee
Legislation targeted at NYPD's self-imposed ban on citing motorists for careless driving has passed the State Senate transportation committee.
June 6, 2012
Three Strikes Bill Would Terminate Licenses of Serial Dangerous Drivers
One of the more pernicious shortcomings of New York State's slapdash traffic justice system is its failure to keep dangerous drivers off the road. As long as repeat offenders pay their fines and don't get caught driving drunk, they can for the most part count on holding on to a drivers license, no matter how many tickets they receive, even if they cause a fatality.
May 30, 2012
Lanza Introduces Amended Speed Cam Bill in State Senate
Albany legislation to let New York City enforce its speed limit using automated cameras got a new lease on life last week. A slate of amendments have made the bill more politically palatable, and Staten Island Republican Andrew Lanza has introduced a version of the bill in the State Senate, the first time this version of the bill has been live in the legislature's upper chamber.
May 29, 2012
State Senate Passes Bill Eliminating Incentive to Leave Scene of Crashes
If you get drunk, get behind the wheel of a car and get into a crash in New York State, you should flee the scene. Not morally, of course, but legally the repercussions will be less severe. A drunk driver who stays at the scene of a crash can be charged with a felony; sober up and take the hit-and-run charge and the worst you'll face is a misdemeanor.
May 24, 2012
No More Excuses: Albany Bill Tells NYPD How to Enforce Careless Driving
At the February City Council hearing on NYPD traffic enforcement, council members and the public learned that a driver who injures a pedestrian or cyclist in New York City is not normally cited under the state vulnerable user laws unless an officer witnesses the violation. NYPD officials said department protocol prohibits precinct officers from issuing tickets under VTL 1146, the state statute that includes Hayley and Diego’s Law as well as Elle’s Law, because the citations are prone to being dismissed in court.
May 24, 2012
Brennan Proposes $4.5B Transpo Bond for Next MTA Capital Plan
With the next three years of the MTA capital plan officially moving forward -- even without dedicated funding from Albany -- it's time to start talking about 2015. That's when the next MTA capital plan starts. And distant as it may seem, on the political calendar it's just around the corner.
April 6, 2012
Gustavo Rivera: Albany Can Do Better Than an MTA Debt Hike
Transit riders in the 33rd State Senate district may finally have a champion in Albany.
April 2, 2012