City Council Approves Legislation Increasing Penalties In Hit-And-Run Crashes
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Drivers who leave the scene of an accident in New York City will see stiffer civil penalties under new City Council legislation.
The City Council voted Wednesday to increase penalties for hit-and-runs.
Under the measure, a fatal hit-run accident would trigger a fine of up to $15,000. A new set of penalties was also created for repeat offenders.
The move comes as more than a dozen pedestrians have died on New York City streets since Halloween.
Just last week, 17-year-old Ovidio Jaramillo was killed in a hit-run crash in Jackson Heights, Queens. The driver has not been found, but police released pictures of a man they want to question who they said was seen getting out of the passenger seat of the vehicle shortly after the incident.
Lawmakers are hoping the new penalties will make drivers think twice before leaving the scene after a crash.
The City Council also passed a measure that requires police to compile more data on hit-and-run crashes.
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