Newly-introduced bill would increase penalties against drivers who kill or injure animals

September 24, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NEW YORK — KEEPING PETS SAFE FROM RECKLESS DRIVERS is the goal of a new bill in the New York State Senate that Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Gounardes and Assemblymember Tony Simone (D-75) gathered at the Chelsea Waterside Dog Park, along with animal advocates, pet owners and furry friends to introduce the “Protecting Animals Walking on the Street” (PAWS) Act (S9915/A10660), which will increase penalties against a driver when a pet is injured or killed in a car crash.

Even though the 1.1 million household dogs and cats in the city are considered family members, injuring or killing them is considered a minor infraction, similar to making an illegal U-turn, explained Gounardes. The loss of a service animal, support animal or pet to traffic collisions is devastating to their human owners, particularly to people with disabilities. The Gounardes/Simone bill recognizes the importance of such animals by adding companion to the “due care statute” under vehicle law, as it already does for pedestrians, cyclists, sheep, cattle and goats — which results in higher fines when a driver is reckless. It also increases fines when a driver leaves the scene without reporting the incident.

Gounardes shared the New York Times story by Brooklyn Heights resident Ginia Bellafante, whose own pet was hit and killed by a car earlier this year. She points out that stealing a pet is considered a more serious crime than killing one in traffic.

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