Aims To Protect Those Protecting Children
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo announced Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill into law to provide enhanced protections for crossing guards against assault and unsafe motorists.
This legislation was introduced by State Sen. Jose Peralta, cosponsored by Addabbo and passed by both houses of the Legislature with bi-partisan support.
“Crossing guards are valued public servants who protect our schoolchildren every day,” Addabbo said. “Unfortunately, the unsafe actions by some reckless motorists put these public employees in danger and that is simply unacceptable. Crossing guards deserve legal protections similar to those that safeguard New York’s paramedics and firefighters and should be treated with respect by the communities they serve.”
Often crossing guards are subjected to physical and verbal threats and even violence in the course of protecting schoolchildren from being injured or killed by traffic. Those who threaten, menace, spit on, strike or insult crossing guards endanger them and the children they protect and have previously only faced minor consequences.
Senate Bill S122B, sponsored by Peralta, includes assaulting an onduty school crossing guard in the crime of assault in the second degree, punishable by 2 to 7 years in jail.
“Protections for school crossing guards increase their safety and the safety of the children whose lives they safeguard every day,” Addabbo concluded. “This is about protecting our kids and those who keep them safe. I commend Governor Cuomo for signing this bill and standing up for public safety.”
