Hayley and Diego’s Law Clears State Assembly

A few minutes ago, Hayley and Diego’s Law cleared a vote in the full State Assembly. The next hurdle is the codes committee in the
fractious State Senate, where it’s scheduled to come up for a vote
tomorrow.

The legislation would create a new category of traffic offense — "careless driving" — intended to make it easier for law enforcement to bring charges against drivers who injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists. 

According to a source in the capitol, Democrat Eric Schneiderman, who chairs the codes committee, supports the bill, but the measure may encounter unified opposition from the committee’s Republican bloc, which controls seven of the 16 votes. At least one Republican, Brooklyn Senator Marty Golden, has announced his intention to vote against the bill.

We’ll post more on the situation as information becomes available.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Albany Update: Hayley and Diego’s Law Has Momentum

By Noah Kazis |
The Albany legislative session is scheduled to end two weeks from today, and time is running out for state legislators to make streets safer, buses faster, and cities more sustainable. Earlier today we discussed the prospects of bus lane camera enforcement. Here’s a survey of the other top legislative priorities for supporters of livable streets. […]

Senate Committee Votes to Close Loophole in Careless Driving Law

By Stephen Miller |
Just hours after the City Council transportation committee unanimously passed a resolution asking Albany to take action, the Senate transportation committee advanced a bill, with an 18-1 vote, that would close a loophole in Hayley and Diego’s Law, with the goal of increased enforcement of the state’s careless driving law by police and district attorneys. The law is named after […]

Albany Update: Bill to Protect Peds and Cyclists One Step Closer to Law

By Ben Fried |
At yesterday’s meeting of the State Senate codes committee, Hayley and Diego’s Law passed in a 13-3 vote. The bill, which should give prosecutors greater leeway to bring charges against motorists who injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists, now moves to the finance committee. It passed the full Assembly earlier this week. Three Republicans, including […]

Assembly Kneecaps Complete Streets; Senate Passes Hayley & Diego’s Law

By Noah Kazis |
Just when you thought the State Assembly was safe for forward-thinking transportation legislation, Rochester rep David Gantt, the Transportation Committee chair formerly of bus cam-killing fame, has thrown a wrench into attempts to pass a complete streets bill. The complete streets bill would require almost all new and reconstructed roads in the state to accommodate […]