Traffic Justice
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Queens DA Richard Brown on Driver Who Killed Allison Liao: Accidents Happen
A letter from District Attorney Richard Brown's office explaining why no charges were filed against the driver who killed 3-year-old Allison Liao offers disturbing insight into the mindset of prosecutors charged with holding motorists accountable for serious traffic crashes in Queens.
November 17, 2014
Ken Thompson Secures Manslaughter Conviction for Crash That Killed Driver
In an unusual instance of a sober driver facing penalties for causing a death, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson secured a manslaughter conviction for a crash that killed a second motorist.
November 13, 2014
NY State DMV Dismisses Tickets of Driver Who Killed Allie Liao [Updated]
Update: Streetsblog has filed a freedom of information request for documents related to the DMV's dismissal of tickets issued by NYPD to Ahmad Abu-Zayedeh.
November 7, 2014
Senior Struck By Unlicensed Driver in UES Crosswalk Has Died
A senior struck by an allegedly unlicensed motorist in an Upper East Side crosswalk this September has died from her injuries, according to NYPD's monthly traffic crash report and WNYC's Mean Streets project. Though the driver was ticketed for failure to yield, he was not charged under the new Vision Zero law that makes it a crime for motorists to harm pedestrians who have the right of way.
November 5, 2014
NYPD Training Precinct Cops to Charge Drivers Who Violate Right of Way Law
All 35,000 of New York City's uniformed police officers will be trained to file charges against drivers who violate the new Right of Way Law, according to NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan.
October 28, 2014
DA Cy Vance: $250 Fine for Motorist Accused of Deliberately Striking Cyclist
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance dropped assault charges against a hit-and-run driver accused of intentionally ramming a cyclist with an SUV, allowing the defendant to plead guilty to leaving the scene and pay a small fine, according to court documents and the victim's attorney, Steve Vaccaro.
October 22, 2014
Maximum Penalty for Cab Driver Who Killed Cooper Stock: 15 Days and $750
The cab driver who killed 9-year-old Cooper Stock last January was charged this month with failure to exercise due care, a traffic infraction that carries a maximum 15-day jail sentence and a small fine.
October 17, 2014
Council Members Press NYPD to Enforce the Law in Death of Sui Leung
Under a new Vision Zero law, a driver who critically injures or kills a pedestrian or cyclist who has the right of way is guilty of a misdemeanor. But nearly two months after it took effect, there is no evidence NYPD is applying the law, known as Section 19-190, as Mayor de Blasio and the City Council intended. This week, three council members expressly asked NYPD to charge a motorist who killed a senior in Manhattan, and the response from NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan has troubling implications about how police are enforcing the new law.
October 10, 2014
Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson: $500 Fine for Unlicensed Driver Who Killed Senior
An unlicensed driver was sentenced to a small fine and probation after he ran over and killed a Brooklyn senior who was crossing with the right of way, per the terms of a plea deal with District Attorney Ken Thompson. Though the driver was charged with committing two traffic offenses at the time of the crash, he was not charged with criminal negligence under the so-called "rule of two."
October 6, 2014
Vance Brings Manslaughter Charge in Death of Pedestrian Charity Hicks
A motorist charged with manslaughter for the death of a Manhattan pedestrian is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
September 30, 2014