Gianaris days after Noshat Nahian’s death
June 7, 2017 By Jason Cohen
The state senate passed a bill this week that would punish motorists who kill while driving with a revoked, suspended or invalid license will felony charges.
In 2014, State Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), a long time safe streets advocate, introduced the bill following the death of two pedestrians at the hands of unlicensed drivers.
Currently, if an unlicensed driver kills someone they are charged with ‘aggravated unlicensed operation,’ which carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and 30 days in jail, though jail sentences are rare. This is essentially the same charge that applies if an unlicensed driver commits a traffic violation, according to Gianaris.
Gianaris announced his bill just days after an unlicensed truck driver killed 8-year-old Noshat Nahian while he was crossing Northern Boulevard on his way to school at PS 152 in Woodside in December 2013. The bill gain further momentum months later, when Angela Hurtado, 68, of Elmhurst, was killed by an unlicensed driver of an SUV as she crossed Grand Avenue.
“Too many lives have been lost at the hands of drivers who should not have been on the road in the first place,” Gianaris said. “I am glad the senate passed my bill and I urge the Assembly and Gov. Cuomo to follow suit and enact this important proposal into law immediately.”
The bill has been introduced in the Assembly but has yet come up for a vote.
“The law needs to be strengthened, not just to punish, but more importantly, to create a powerful deterrent to driving with a suspended or revoked license,” said Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) in a statement.
“Deterrence is absolutely critical to saving innocent lives because we know that as things stand now unlicensed drivers are still getting behind the wheel,” Simotas, who is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly, said. I’m still hopeful we can get this done before the legislative session ends and send the message that unlicensed driving is a serious crime.”
