Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas on Thursday called on state lawmakers to approve proposed legislation that would strengthen penalties against motorists who severely injure or kill others while driving with a suspended or revoked license.
At a press conference following the arraignment of a Seaford man who last year struck and killed a 12-year-old boy while awaiting the outcome of driving while intoxicated charges from a different incident, Singas expressed support for increasing charges for such incidents to felony-level counts from the current misdemeanor.
“Today we say, ‘enough,’” said Singas, whose office drafted the legislation, which is being sponsored in Albany by state Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) and state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola). “Innocent people should not have to live in fear of suspended or revoked drivers who should not be on the road.”
Under the proposed law, severely injuring someone while driving with a suspended license would carry a Class E felony charge, punishable by up to four years in prison. Such incidents resulting in death would carry a Class D felony, which carries a sentence of up to seven years.
Current misdemeanor charges are punishable by a maximum 180-day sentence.
“Driving is a privilege, not a right. Cars become weapons when bad drivers are behind the wheel,” Martins said in a statement. “That someone whose driving privileges were taken away can go on the road illegally, kill or injure someone, and only face a misdemeanor charge is unacceptable.”
