Bay Ridge

Senate passes Golden’s bill to crack down on hit-run drivers

February 15, 2013 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-southern Brooklyn), who has been pushing for passage of a bill he sponsored to hit-run drivers, breathed a sigh of relief this week when the senate approved the proposed legislation.

Golden’s bill would increase the criminal penalties against motorists for leaving the scene of an accident that results in a victim’s death, serious injury, or property damage. It would mean more jail time for drivers who are caught after they flee the scene, Golden said. The minimum sentence would be seven years behind bars.

There are too many hit-run incidents and something has to be done, Golden said. “Just last week, a hit and run accident in Manhattan took the life of a senior citizen. Two times in December we saw young women lose their lives at the hands of a motorist, in the Bronx and in Queens. And in November, a jogger was struck and killed in Brooklyn,” he said.

Jason Williams, 23, was struck by a driver while jogging on Nostrand Avenue at 3:40 a.m. on Nov. 18, authorities said. The motorist, who was driving an SUV, did not stop, authorities said.

 “In three months, four people have been killed in the five boroughs in hit and run accidents. It is time to get serious about making sure that reckless drivers, who take innocent lives and destroy families, face the
strictest penalties,” Golden said.

He challenged the State Assembly to pass the bill. “Each day the assembly fails to act, it is another day
that New Yorkers are walking, jogging, and riding their bikes in danger,” he said.

Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay) is the assembly sponsor of the bill.

 

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