Van Bramer, Martha Puruncajas , Melissa Mark Viverito (Source: Bill Alatriste)
Sept. 24, 2014 By Christian Murray
The city council passed legislation yesterday that would fine drivers who flee the scene of an accident up to $10,000.
The Council voted 49-0 in favor of the legislation that was introduced by Jimmy Van Bramer following three hit-and-run deaths that have occurred in Western Queens in the past year.
“I am proud to have sponsored Intro 371, the ‘Justice for Hit and Run Victims Act,’” Van Bramer said in a statement. “I was moved to introduce this bill in response to the death of three people who were killed in my district by drivers who fled the scene.”
Last September, Luis Bravo, 19, was killed crossing Broadway in Woodside. Meanwhile, Karen Pheras, 20, was struck and killed around the same time crossing Queens Plaza North. Then in March, Martha Puruncajas, 64, was killed crossing Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.
“They all lost their lives because of the unconscionable actions of reckless drivers who showed no concern for the lives of these three people,” Van Bramer said. “We will never know if one or all of them could have been saved had the drivers done the right thing: stopped their car and called 911.”
All three drivers have yet to be caught.
“It’s something you never get over,” said Bravo’s mother, Maribel Egipciaco, at a recent council hearing.”The pain is unbearable, the pain stays,” she said, adding that she hopes stiffer penalties would prevent future tragedies.
Under the bill, those who leave the scene of an incident without taking action would be subject to pay a civil penalty of up to $500 if property damage stems from the incident; $1,000 to $2,000 if a person is injured; and $2,000 to $10,000 if there is serious injury or death.
Currently there are no “civil” penalties in New York City if someone flees.
Criminal penalties are determined by the state lawmakers.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the bill into law. The law would take effect ninety days after he signs it.
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3 Comments
I wish the emphasis would have been on proactive measures instead of reactive. They are able to get a civil fine passed in no time but they can’t seem to create four-way stops at busy intersections, rumble strips on bridges, crosswalks on pedestrian right aways or stop cars from parking on sidewalks. Make that fine $1m, it doesn’t matter if you are ignoring the chance to prevent these accidents in the first place.
a $10,000 fine? how about directly to jail…what about all the undocumented (illegal) drivers in Queens alone who have worked their way up to NYC and have no documentation or work off the books…think they’re going to have $10,000?
A good thing to be passed but given they haven’t found the people responsible for these 3 deaths then what difference is a fine going to make. In the UK if you do a hit n run and get caught the chances are you’re going to jail.