NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5879

Senate Bill S5879

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Enacts Michelle and Jordan's law relating to the penalties for a second conviction of participating in an unlawful speed contest or race

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 03, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S5879 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1182, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S3007
2011-2012: S2938
2013-2014: S2455
2015-2016: S3732
2017-2018: S6302
2019-2020: S1754
2021-2022: S4926
2023-2024: S4217

2025-S5879 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts Michelle and Jordan's law relating to the penalties for a second conviction of participating in an unlawful speed contest or race.

2025-S5879 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5879

SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to enact "Michelle and Jordan's law"; and to amend the vehicle
and traffic law, in relation to speed contests and races

 
PURPOSE:

Establishes Michelle and Jordan's law and relates to the penalties for
participating in an unlawful speed contest or race.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
"Michelle and Jordan's Law."

Section 2. Section 1182 of the vehicle and traffic law as amended by
chapter 594 of the laws of 1987, subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by
section 9 of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2003, is amended to
include speed contests and laces. Violations of any of the provisions of

this section shall constitute a class A misdemeanor and be punishable by
imprisonment of not more than thirty days or a fine of not less than
three hundred dollars nor more than, five hundred twenty-five dollars,
or both such fine and imprisonment. Subsection 2 provides that a second
conviction within twelve months of a violation of this section shall
constitute a class E felony and shall be punishable by imprisonment of
up to one year and one day or a fine of not less than five hundred twen-
ty-five dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars, or both such
fine and imprisonment.

Section 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
after it shall have become a law, provided that the commissioner of
motor vehicles is immediately authorized and directed to promulgate,
amend and/or repeal any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on its effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

A tragic incident on Staten Island occurred that left a seventeen year
old girl dead and her boyfriend critically' injured, due to a high speed
race contest. The crash occurred when a group of four friends driving a
Honda Accord got involved in a race with three other friends, traveling
in a Ford Mustang. As the Honda reached speeds as high as 95 mph, the
driver lost control and slammed into the Mustang.  The car smashed into
the metal post, slicing the car in two, sending both passengers in the
back seat, who were not wearing their seatbelts, flying into the woods.

The girl was killed and the boy was left critically injured. Studies
have concluded that speeding increases the likelihood and severity of a
crash. The faster a vehicle is moving, the less time the driver has to
react to a hazard, and for other road users to react to that vehicle. A
speeding vehicle requires more time and distance to stop, and is harder
to control. Creating legislation that mandates harsher punishments for
speed racing is crucial to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in
New York State, as well as in the United States.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.4217- Referred to Transportation

2023: S.4217- Referred to Transportation

2022: S.4926- Referred to Transportation

2021: S.4926- Referred to Transportation

2020: S.1754- Referred to Transportation

2019: S.1754- Referred to Transportation

2018: S.6302- Passed Senate / A.6452- Referred to Transportation

2017: S.6302- Passed Senate / A.6452- Referred to Transportation

2016: S.3732- Passed Senate / A.2809- Referred to Transportation

2015: S.3732- Passed Senate / A.2809- Referred to transportation

2012: S.2938- Passed Senate

2011: S.2938- Passed Senate

2010: S.3007- Reported to Codes / A.8438 - Referred to Transportation

2009: S.3007- Reported to Codes / A.8438 - Referred to Transportation

2008: S.8020- Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law, provided that the commissioner of motor vehi-
cles is immediately authorized and directed to promulgate, amend and/or
repeal any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions
of this act on its effective date.

2025-S5879 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5879
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to enact "Michelle and Jordan's law"; and to  amend  the  vehicle
   and traffic law, in relation to speed contests and races
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 "Michelle and Jordan's law".
   §  2. Subdivision 2 of section 1182 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
 amended by section 9 of part C of chapter 62 of the  laws  of  2003,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   2.  A  second  conviction  within twelve months of a violation of this
 section SHALL CONSTITUTE A CLASS E FELONY AND  shall  be  punishable  by
 imprisonment of [not more than six months] UP TO ONE YEAR AND ONE DAY or
 a  fine  of not less than five hundred twenty-five dollars nor more than
 seven hundred fifty dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10039-01-5

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