Senator Phillips: Stronger Penalties For Drug Dealers Passed By Senate

     Senator Elaine Phillips (R-Manhasset) announced that the New York State Senate passed legislation to strengthen penalties for drug dealers, including those who target children.  Senator Phillips cosponsored the measures.

     “Anyone who preys upon children and gets rich selling poison to our communities should be locked up for a long, long time.  Heroin is destroying lives in record numbers on Long Island.  Strengthening penalties for dealers who are targeting children and supplying these drugs in large quantities is a necessary and commonsense step to combat this epidemic and protect our communities,” said Senator Phillips.

     The first bill (S814) would enhance penalties for selling drugs at playgrounds or parks, places which are heavily utilized by children.  This would create parity with the existing law that carries enhanced penalties for dealing drugs at similar places, including schools, school buses and day care centers.  Dealers who sell at these locations can be charged with a class C felony, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

     The second bill (S301) would give law enforcement stronger tools to charge large-scale drug dealers as “major traffickers,” a crime which carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years.  Under current law, a drug dealer can be classified as a “major trafficker” if they sell $75,000 of illegal drugs within a six month period.  This legislation would lower that threshold and allow law enforcement to charge dealers as “major traffickers” if they sell $25,000 of illegal drugs within a six month period. 

     Both bills have been sent to the Assembly for consideration.