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Local Electeds Want Higher Penalties for Electric Scooter Drivers

June 17, 2021 | 7:16 PM
in NEWS
65


Rosenthal and Hoylman at the scene of the crash.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal are pushing to increase the penalties for people driving electric scooters, following a deadly crash at 64th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

Actress Lisa Banes died this week after being hit by a scooter that then fled the scene on June 4, according to police. Under current laws, electric scooter drivers would incur different penalties than drivers if they commit a traffic violation that results in someone being injured.

“Under current law, the penalty for leaving the scene of an electric scooter crash without reporting it to police is a violation if the crash results in physical injury, or a B misdemeanor if the crash results in serious physical injury,” Hoylman and Rosenthal said in a release. “The penalty for leaving the scene of a car crash without reporting it to police is an A misdemeanor if the crash results in physical injury, or an E felony if the crash results in serious physical injury.”

Rosenthal said that there have been 588 crashes in the city involving electric scooters since the start of 2020, resulting in three deaths and 538 injuries.

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JaneW
JaneW
2 years ago

Good for you, Brad and Linda! Keeping my fingers crossed that this goes through!

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Frustrated
Frustrated
2 years ago

This has been going on for several years. Where were they then? Everyone has talked about it ad nauseam how dangerous the electric scooters and motorized bicycles are and it took another death for our “concerned” officials to push for this. THEY LITERALLY MAKE THE LAWS. Linda Rosenthal and Brad Hoylman should be embarrassed to bring up the number of deaths and injuries. They should have worked harder a year ago to address this. I find it offensive they are acting outraged now.

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michael
michael
2 years ago

It’s hard to impose a penalty when no one is enforcing the law.

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Ken
Ken
2 years ago
Reply to  michael

Correct. I fear this is just one of many other actions on the part of the police who look the other way to teach us not to f with police reform…

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your_neighbor
your_neighbor
2 years ago

Time to register these motor vehicles, require insurance and drivers licenses for the operators.

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Lin
Lin
2 years ago
Reply to  your_neighbor

And bikes should be added. Most riders go right through
lights and often go against traffic.

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RK
RK
2 years ago
Reply to  Lin

Let’s license pedestrians too, then. They jaywalk ALL THE TIME.

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Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  RK

The main difference being you’re probably not going to get injured or killed if a jaywalking pedestrian crashes into you.

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Boris
Boris
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Oh really? Fall off your bike a few times and then we can revisit that claim.

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CarynG
CarynG
2 years ago
Reply to  RK

thank you, I am a cyclist, abiding by traffic rules and lights, just as frustrated with all the motorized variations of bikes, scooters, etc. who whiz through lights, travel in the wrong direction, and yes frustrated by pedestrians that just walk right in front of me when I have the right of way.

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Upper West Side Cyclist
Upper West Side Cyclist
2 years ago

Leaving the scene of a crash should be the same penalty no matter what vehicle you are operating, automobile, scooter, or bike.

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Leon
Leon
2 years ago
Reply to  Upper West Side Cyclist

Part of that penalty should involve psych counseling because anyone who can injure someone and immediately leave the scene is soulless. Note that the vehicle operator is not always in the wrong on these crashes, but anyone who leaves the scene is.

I agree with others that any vehicle with a motor that can go over X mph (I will defer to others on the appropriate speed) should have plates and require a license.

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Dawn Moore
Dawn Moore
2 years ago
Reply to  Leon

Agree except, if their soul is unwell, religious counseling may be more appropriate than psych.

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Ken
Ken
2 years ago
Reply to  Leon

Thank you, Leon: clear, concise, & all too true.

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Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Unless these vehicles have license plates finding them will be impossible.

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Leslie
Leslie
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Exactly

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Senior
Senior
2 years ago

Senior having 2 scooter close calls both on the sidewalk at 78th and Amsterdam. The news of Linda and Brad, the two rare elected officials that work for the people, are getting involved in this dangerous issue that has been ignored by others in charge puts a smile on my face. Linda and Brad, this little old lady, says Thank you Thank you while breathing a sigh of relief knowing that with you guys involved I may soon be taking a fearless stroll on the sidewalk again.   

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Veronica
Veronica
2 years ago

Wonderful time for a press op. Now you can go home.

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Brenda
Brenda
2 years ago

This is a step in the right direction

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Marci
Marci
2 years ago

Again, no plan to deal with this growing problem; just rattling off the penalties. I agree with all the other comments here; registation needs to be required and the law needs to be enforced. There won’t be any change without those things happening.

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js
js
2 years ago

This refers to electric t-scooters?

Revel etc would be referred to as mopeds/Vespa type? They normally stop at red lights but recently saw a few who didn’t.

“Regular” cyclists and e-cyclists routinely go through red lights and often the wrong way. Skateboaders too.

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RK
RK
2 years ago
Reply to  js

Revel scooters have license plates

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Josh
Josh
2 years ago
Reply to  js

It depends upon who is riding the Revel. The riders who are using it purely for transportation seem to follow the rules well. But there are a lot of riders who seem to be using them for a joyride and are out for a thrill. Those riders blow lights, ride on sidewalks or bike paths/lanes, etc.

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UWSer
UWSer
2 years ago

There was good reason why scooters were not allowed in the city until recently, and this is a painful example. BDB allowed scooters into the city without any thought or care for how they would work in the city. Time to either ban them again or regulate them.

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Carlos
Carlos
2 years ago

I’m not a huge fan of bike lanes (but have grown to accept them) and really dislike electric scooters.

Earlier this week I was walking on 1st Ave. around 6:30 pm. I was fascinated to note that there was a huge volume of bikers going uptown in the bike lane. What was particularly interesting was that because of the volume of bikers and the wide variety of speeds at which they traveled, the electric scooters were essentially forced into the car lanes, as they couldn’t achieve their desired speeds in the fairly crowded bike lanes.

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UWSWasp
UWSWasp
2 years ago

I dont understand why theres all these unlicensed motor scooters. The police should stop them and give a summons. I cant drive around w/o a license plate. Its very unsafe to allow unlicensed, uninsured motorcycles and scooters to be operated with no police intervention. And I know they say its not safe to chase them etc. Well, thats not good enough. Find a way to do something about it or there will be more accidents like this one.

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good humor
good humor
2 years ago

this issue affects me far more than the murders in Brooklyn.

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andrea D callahan
andrea D callahan
2 years ago

Here in Florida, you have to be licensed to ride anything that exceeds 30 mph, scooters, mopeds, anything of that sort, but even if you are on a bicycle or an E-bike, you should still follow the traffic laws and be required to have appropriate safety equipment, like a horn or bell, mirrors, lights, and a helmet, because accidents happen, and will continue to happen, but will be greatly reduced if these items were required, it doesn’t take a drivers license to know these things, it takes common sense. I ordered an E-bike in March and have all the above accessories waiting for when it gets here.

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Elias Hyland Altenberg
Elias Hyland Altenberg
2 years ago

I agree that there should be higher penalties, but the idiots who are saying that electric bicycle and scooter are dangerous whilst driving a vehicle at least 28 times the weight of a bike that kills thousands a year well its kind of laughable.

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LivesOnUWS
LivesOnUWS
2 years ago
Reply to  Elias Hyland Altenberg

Yes. I think we are really talking about how scooters, bikes and unlicensed vehicles are not following the rules of the road or even the walking paths in the parks. Going the wrong way on a street, not stopping for lights or pedestrians and riding on sidewalks.

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Jay
Jay
2 years ago
Reply to  Elias Hyland Altenberg

Elias Hyland Altenberg:

The problem with your not original argument is that cars don’t drive against traffic, run red lights, and drive on sidewalks with anywhere near the frequency that e-scooters and e-bikes do.

Yours is a tired false comparison, counting vehicles and miles driven, cars/trucks pull this crap much less frequently than e-bike drivers, and now e-scooters are more common than they were say 3 years ago.

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Sam Katz
Sam Katz
2 years ago
Reply to  Elias Hyland Altenberg

And another thing: Cars rarely run red lights here. E-bikes rarely stop at red lights here. Hope that clarifies whose the “idiot.”

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JL
JL
2 years ago
Reply to  Sam Katz

@Sam Re: “cars rarely run red lights here”

You’re right. DRIVERS still enjoy the dominance of public space and KILL hundreds and injury thousands every year in NYC.

https://gothamist.com/news/nycs-streets-got-deadlier-in-2020

Please scroll down to the charts and numbers of what “rarely run red lights” means in NYC.

Yes, there is general lawlessness currently due to multiple factors. Do look both ways before stepping into traffic. Eye contact or put out your palm (fingers up) if you need to move slowly and have RoW.

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Sam Katz
Sam Katz
2 years ago
Reply to  Elias Hyland Altenberg

I think you will find very few of us in Manhattan who drive. Most of us do not have cars and either walk or take public transportation, so we are neither idiots or whatever insult you flung from clearly afar and out of the City. Nice try, but you don’t seem to have a grasp on City life

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Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Sam Katz

He’s telling you that it’s ok to be mugged by someone with a box cutter because a glock would be worse.

Perhaps it’s better not to be mugged at all?

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Stef Lev
Stef Lev
2 years ago

Why does it take a death to get some common sense regulators? More is needed. All vehicles need to be registered and licensed, including bicycles!

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Jo Baldwin
Jo Baldwin
2 years ago
Reply to  Stef Lev

Politicians don’t “act”, they “react”.

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JEF Santamonica
JEF Santamonica
2 years ago

I got hit 74/Amsterdam – two days before the woman got hit at 64th/Amsterdam and recently passed. I was so very sorry for her and her family.
There has been no action from the NYPD.
If there is not registration and they are hit and run, how are they ever caught?
I had a sprained arm and elbow and multiple bruises. I consider myself lucky.
He ran a red light as I was in the the walk way with the white walk sign.
If they don’t obey traffic rules and aren’t register with a plate, what can ever hold them to account?

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concerned
concerned
2 years ago

If the police continue to look the other way
on the issue of Ebikes and scooters violating
traffic laws, it really doesn’t make any difference if new laws, including licensing and registration, are passed. The cops don’t even enforce motor vehicle safety laws in the city unless they’re able to levy a huge fine
for doing so (seat belts etc.)

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steven morvay
steven morvay
2 years ago

All electric vehicles (bikes, scooters) being used for commercial reasons should be registered with the City!

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Susan
Susan
2 years ago

This is dangerous and hazardous and is not limited to the UWS. 2 nights ago, they were riding up and down the front steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, terrorizing everyone in their pathway. East End Avenue all the way down onto 2nd Avenue is another “pathway” Thank you to anyone attempting to curtail this. Without serious deterrents, fearful it will continue, given “no bail” and defunding the NYPD. New leadership in our city is even more essential.

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Frustrated
Frustrated
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Susan, absolutely agree.

For those complaining about the NYPD responding, have you thought about the graduation class that was canceled last year when the “leadership” of this city knee-jerked a reaction during the protests? And the super Progressive candidates want to take more money and police away (hello Maya Wiley) so how would they enforce these things if they can’t keep up with the shootings and serial bail reform offenders?

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Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Frustrated

It was canceled because of budgetary reasons.

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EdNY
EdNY
2 years ago
Reply to  Frustrated

DO you really think that a few thousand more police is going to make that difference? The police are presently capable of enforcing traffic regulations with far greater frequency than they currently do. It’s a matter of departmental policy and direction.

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Frustrated
Frustrated
2 years ago
Reply to  EdNY

Yes, I absolutely do. And the incoming class from last year was not cut for budgetary reasons, it was immediately after George Floyd protests. Just like bail reform, something not thought out properly and immediately executed by leaders who do not know what they are doing. Ask the police how busy they are chasing people who have been arrested 3 times in a row, then see how much manpower they have to stop a bicyclist running a red light.

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LivesOnUWS
LivesOnUWS
2 years ago

The police are severely derelict on this issue.

This has to be one of the most dangerous times for a pedestrian to walk with the light I gave ever seen. I have almost been hit twice in the past month by bikes going the wrong way through a red light.

All someone has to do is stand at 97th and Riverside Drive for 10 minutes and watch the parade of unlicensed vehicles, bikes and scooters drive through the red light at that intersection.

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Wm Miller
Wm Miller
2 years ago

What’s next e-skateboards?, e-bikes? I’m sure the car accidents hitting scooters and bike riders is waayyyy more the issue. Try fixing the Major issues and drop the political rhetoric already. So sad.

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jimcash
jimcash
2 years ago

Keep dancing around the issue with these half measures. Until real punishment is visited on these offenders we are just wasting time and tolerating risks.

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eye witness
eye witness
2 years ago

Today I witnessed a motorcycle accident on Broadway and 92nd Street. The motorcycle driver, traveling south, was forced to jam on his brakes as a construction worker stepped right in front of him. The driver went down hard and the pedestrian continued to walk across without even a glance to see if the driver was dead or alive. Fortunately he seemed okay. Refused the ambulance ride to emergency care and was able to leave on his own. I know this article is about scooters flaunting the law, but pedestrians in NYC have a knack of being equally at fault sometimes. Some education is needed all around. And perhaps NYC should take jaywalking seriously, as many other large cities do.

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EdNY
EdNY
2 years ago
Reply to  eye witness

Jaywalking isn’t really the issue – it’s been going on forever and prohibition could never be enforced. One piece of the problem is that pedestrians, despite having the legal right-of-way, need to look both ways when leaving the curb and crossing. It’s a matter of common sense.

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Jay
Jay
2 years ago
Reply to  EdNY

EdNY:

But why do pedestrians need to look both ways on one way avenues like Amsterdam?

Answer: because bicyclists, e-bike drivers, and scooter (both e and gasoline) flagrantly break the law all the time. No only do they ride/drive the wrong way often they run the “reds” (there are no reds for those going the wrong way) at significant speeds.

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Phoebe
Phoebe
2 years ago

Okay, none of my comments are being published. Let’s see what happens with this one:
Lisa Baines, Rest In Peace and love.

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Reply
Lucy
Lucy
2 years ago

Noone seems brave enough to touch the issue of those hoards of motorcycles which race through neighborhoods through red lights etc. just go after the low hanging fruit

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Tom
Tom
2 years ago

To drive a motorcycle you need a motorcycle endorsement on your driver license. To get the endorsement, you need training to pass the DMV test. If you own a motorcycle or Vespa, you must have the endorsement and license and insure your motorscooter. Motorscooters and e-bikes are not permitted to drive on sidewalks at any time. BUT there is zero enforcement by the NYPD. IMHO, the reason our ditzy Mayor lowered the speed limit on most NYC streets to 25 mph is that 25 is the threshold under which unlicensed electric motorscooters like Revel must operate to be legal. Again, ZERO enforcement by NYPD. Just watch the delivery people race up the bike lane on Amsterdam Avenue.

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Josh
Josh
2 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Your humble opinion does not match the reason the speed limit was lowered. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 25mph has a MUCH higher chance of survival than if they were struck by a vehicle traveling at 30mph. And the city changing the speed limit had nothing to do with the STATE legalizing ebikes. Nor does lowering the speed limit affect what vehicles are allowed to operate on the road. Limited Use Vehicles can operate on any road with a speed limit 35 or lower.

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Matt H
Matt H
2 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Not true in the detailing, if a vehicle tops out at 30 mph no special motorcycle endorsement is needed on one’s license, an ordinary driver’s license is fine.

This is, e.g., how Revel han a business model.

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John Connolly
John Connolly
2 years ago

As occasional visitors to NYC to visit family, we have been shocked by the total disregard of pedestrians by scooters AND bicyclists. Government – Stop turning a blind eye to a very serious problem! We feel equally as bad for the poor drivers of cars, buses et al that have to cope with the recklessness of scooters and bicycles that is everywhere.

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Boris
Boris
2 years ago
Reply to  John Connolly

I feel the same way about reckless pedestrians whom you conveniently ignore to make your narrative work.

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Reply
js
js
2 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Boris,
If you have kids or elderly family members, there is absolutely cause for concern of being hit by a cyclist or t-scooter in Manhattan.

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js
js
2 years ago

As an example:
On Friday afternoon, just within 7 blocks, multiple bicycles and t-scooters on the sidewalk…
Ridden by adults (these were not delivery workers)

And that does not include the multiple cyclists and t-scooters in the street (same 7 blocks) all going through red lights and some going the wrong way…

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Judy
Judy
2 years ago

I think that anyone riding something that could cause injury to another (bike, scooter, etc.) should take a written test to show that they know the rules, and receive a license. That license should be visible on their device, so they can be accountable in the event of an incident. I am a bike rider and I would gladly comply!

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Matt H
Matt H
2 years ago
Reply to  Judy

Every jurisdiction that has tried this has not found it to be worth the cost and effort. Every last one. Bicycles (plain old bicycles!) are just not that dangerous. It just ends up being a stalking horse for people who want to erect barriers to riding for no especially well motivated reason.

And this seems like a particular burden for, say, 4-year-olds. Up to age 18 at least.

Returning to the actual story at hand, I am in favor of an aggressive confiscation plan against electric motorcycle riders who operate their vehicles without benefit of registration. These things aren’t even street-legal without licensure.

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Mr. Z
Mr. Z
2 years ago

How about if we start by getting them off the sidewalks.

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Brian Dozier
Brian Dozier
2 years ago

Next thing ya know youll need a permit to zip up our pants.. stop the regulations!! Paddle permit to float the river!!!! What the hell is that?? Unreal

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Reply
Almost Killed by Scooter Today
Almost Killed by Scooter Today
2 years ago

Hi. Almost hit today by a person on a Fast moving scooter with tall handlebars. Person sideswiped me, cutting me off suddenly to enter 250 West 104th Street. Called NYPD. Unless I am injured, bleeding, dying – they can do nothing.

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Reply

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