Senate Bill S4257B

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4257

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
the creation of a "yellow alert system"

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill will establish a "yellow alert system," for law enforcement
to publicize vehicle information in instances of hit-and-run
accidents.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

§ 1 amends, § 221 of the executive law to give police officers, peace
officers, and police agencies in the state the discretion to dispatch
information regarding vehicles involved in a hit-and-run incident from
which a person was killed or has suffered serious bodily injury, over
the police communication system. If a police agency is not connected
to the police communication system, they may transmit such information
to the nearest or most convenient electronic entry point.  After being
dispatched over the aforementioned communication system or electronic
entry point, this information can be broadcast to the public by means
of, but not limited to: e-mail notifications; highway signs; text
messages; telephone calls; television; or radio. In situations where
the investigating police department advises that the release of such
information may jeopardize the investigation or the safety of the
              

victim, or requests forbearances for any other reason, no dispatch or
transmission of information will be required.

§ 2 sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Approximately 40,000 hit-and-run incidents occur yearly in New York
City, with 4,000 causing personal injury. In 2015, 48 hit-and-run
incidents in New York City were designated as "catastrophic," meaning
that they resulted in death or serious injury. Of these, only 28
resulted in prosecution of any sort. An important reason why so few
hit-and-run incidents have led to prosecution is that those involved,
who cause the serious injury or death in question, often evade the
scene of the incident.

For victims and their families, a fatal or injurious hit-and-run is an
exceedingly tragic event. This legislation will work to increase the
likelihood that justice meets the perpetrator of these tragic
occurrences.

By establishing the "yellow alert system," police agencies and
departments will be able to inform the public of vehicle information
related to hit-and-run incidents, and therefore gain a vital tool in
their efforts to apprehend those who choose to leave the scene of a
hit-and-run incident. Furthermore, police agencies and departments
will be granted the autonomy to decide if and how information is
disseminated. This implies that if police agencies have existing
systems and procedures for broadcasting public alerts, they can
utilize them.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Possible fiscal implications for police agencies and departments
without existing systems and procedures for broadcasting public
alerts.
 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4257A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
the creation of a "yellow alert system"

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill will establish a "yellow alert system," for law enforcement
to publicize vehicle information in instances of hit-and-run
accidents.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

§ 1 amends, § 221 of the executive law to give police officers, peace
officers, and police agencies in the state the discretion to dispatch
information regarding vehicles involved in a hit-and-run incident from
which a person was killed or has suffered serious bodily injury, over
the police communication system. If a police agency is not connected
to the police communication system, they may transmit such information
to the nearest or most convenient electronic entry point.  After being
dispatched over the aforementioned communication system or electronic
entry point, this information can be broadcast to the public by means
of, but not limited to: e-mail notifications; highway signs; text
messages; telephone calls; television; or radio. In situations where
the investigating police department advises that the release of such
information may jeopardize the investigation or the safety of the
              

victim, or requests forbearances for any other reason, no dispatch or
transmission of information will be required.

§ 2 sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Approximately 40,000 hit-and-run incidents occur yearly in New York
City, with 4,000 causing personal injury. In 2015, 48 hit-and-run
incidents in New York City were designated as "catastrophic," meaning
that they resulted in death or serious injury. Of these, only 28
resulted in prosecution of any sort. An important reason why so few
hit-and-run incidents have led to prosecution is that those involved,
who cause the serious injury or death in question, often evade the
scene of the incident.

For victims and their families, a fatal or injurious hit-and-run is an
exceedingly tragic event. This legislation will work to increase the
likelihood that justice meets the perpetrator of these tragic
occurrences.

By establishing the "yellow alert system," police agencies and
departments will be able to inform the public of vehicle information
related to hit-and-run incidents, and therefore gain a vital tool in
their efforts to apprehend those who choose to leave the scene of a
hit-and-run incident. Furthermore, police agencies and departments
will be granted the autonomy to decide if and how information is
disseminated. This implies that if police agencies have existing
systems and procedures for broadcasting public alerts, they can
utilize them.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Possible fiscal implications for police agencies and departments
without existing systems and procedures for broadcasting public
alerts.
 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Shall take effect immediately.