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Car Accident Attorney Discusses Wrong-Way and Reckless Driving Felony Charges in New York

The New York State Senate passed legislation that will charge drivers traveling the wrong-way or driving recklessly with felony driving charges.  Aggravated Reckless driving, under Senate Bill 3452, will now result in class E felony charges against drivers who are traveling a speed greater than 30mph over the speed limit when intoxicated or while weaving in and out of traffic; and for drivers traveling against the flow of traffic in the wrong lane whether intoxicated or not.  The felony will be punishable with a prison sentence up to four years.
The current law for reckless driving in NY is labeled an unclassified misdemeanor with a maximum of 30 days in prison.  Reckless driving will be increased to a class A misdemeanor under this new legislation, and a prison sentence up to a year.
Reason for New Legislation
All over the country, wrong-way drivers cause deadly accidents either from driving while intoxicated, or due to having a death wish and literally looking for a head on collision.  Wrong-way drivers may cause accidents at night, when it’s hard to tell the oncoming headlights are in your lane and headed right toward you; or during the day when drivers are simply not expecting to see the car coming at them.
Drivers going the wrong-way have caused many deadly accidents in the state of NY, including Westchester County and New Rochelle.  A police officer was killed by a drunk driver traveling the wrong way on Northern State Parkway in 2010.

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