Four Dead in About Nine Weeks. Clear the Curb, Pass the Bills.

Aug 14 - Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Illegally parked cars endanger people on foot and bike. Res 1024-2025 urges Albany to pass A.5440. Cameras ticket owners who flout posted rules. Fines escalate. Goal: clear lanes and crosswalks. Make streets less hostile to people, not cars.

Res 1024-2025 sits in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred August 14, 2025. The resolution urges passage of State bill A.5440, which, in the Council’s words, "imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York." Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, by Assemblymember Steven Raga, authorizes a six-year camera pilot to ticket owners for posted parking-rule violations caught by street or vehicle-mounted cameras. Fines start at $50 and rise to $250 for repeaters, with a $25 late penalty. DOT must publish a two-year report. The aim: fewer illegal blockers, safer space for people outside cars.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 7 - The driver of a sedan made a U-turn on Woodside Ave and hit a 62-year-old motorcyclist. He suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver.

On Woodside Avenue in Queens a sedan and a motorcycle collided when the driver of the sedan made a U-turn and the motorcycle, traveling straight, struck the sedan’s front. The motorcycle rider, a 62-year-old man, was recorded injured with crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. According to the police report, the crash involved "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver of the sedan. Vehicle records show center front-end damage to both the motorcycle and the sedan. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833478 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 5 - A driver in a sedan hit a moped rider on the BQE in Queens. The rider was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations. Police recorded improper lane use in the crash.

A driver in a sedan collided with a moped rider on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Queens. The rider, a 25-year-old man, was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his entire body. According to the police report, "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" was a contributing factor in the crash. The sedan had damage to the right-front quarter panel; the moped showed damage to the left front bumper. No other injuries were noted. The crash left the vulnerable rider hurt on a highway built for cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Apr 24 - Sedan cuts left on 71st. Motorbike charges straight. Metal collides. Rider, 34, flies off, leg pouring blood. He lies on the street, awake. No helmet. Queens holds its breath.

A sedan turned left at 71st Street and 32nd Avenue in Queens, striking a motorbike traveling straight. The 34-year-old motorbike driver was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' contributed to the crash. The sedan's left front bumper hit the motorbike. The rider wore no helmet, as noted in the report. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver. The crash left the motorbike rider conscious but bleeding, waiting for help.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4807882 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Mar 4 - Council eyes 150 new street cameras to ticket illegal parkers. Double parking blocks crosswalks, hydrants, bike lanes. Lawmakers say chaos endangers walkers and riders. DOT backs tech to clear streets. Delivery drivers worry. Streets stay dangerous until cars yield space.

On March 4, 2025, Assemblyman Steven Raga proposed a bill to install 150 automated cameras across New York City. The measure, discussed in the council and supported by the NYC Department of Transportation, aims to ticket drivers who double park or block critical spaces. The bill summary states: 'Double parking and curb violations aren’t just a nuisance – they’re a public safety hazard.' Raga and DOT officials argue that manual enforcement cannot keep up with rising car numbers, leaving pedestrians and cyclists at risk. Raga led the push, highlighting blocked hydrants and crosswalks as threats. DOT said automated enforcement 'helps keep streets clear, reduces congestion, and protects New Yorkers.' Delivery drivers voiced concern about work impacts, but the bill’s focus remains on clearing space for vulnerable road users. The proposal awaits further council action.

• NYC lawmaker wants 150 new street cams to ticket drivers — including double-parkers: ‘It’s a headache’, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-04

Mar 3 - Lawmakers push for cameras to ticket double parkers. Streets choke with blocked bike lanes and chaos. Manual enforcement fails. DOT backs automation. Some lawmakers resist, call for cops. Vulnerable road users left dodging danger as debate drags.

On March 3, 2025, a legislative proposal surfaced to deploy automated parking enforcement cameras across New York City. Assemblymember Steven Raga leads the push for a $35 million pilot, aiming to install 150 cameras targeting double parking and illegal stops. The bill, not yet assigned a committee or number, seeks to automate enforcement where manual efforts fall short. Raga writes, 'manual enforcement has not been able to meet the demand to combat double parking and illegal parking.' State Senator Simcha Felder of District 44 opposes the measure, arguing for traditional police summonses instead. The Department of Transportation supports the expansion, stating, 'Automated enforcement has proven to change driver behavior and make our streets safer for everyone.' The debate centers on whether automation or police presence best protects pedestrians and cyclists from blocked lanes and traffic hazards.

• New push for automated ticketing of drivers who double park in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-03

Feb 14 - Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Jan 16 - Assembly bill A 2299 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets in a year triggers forced speed control tech. Lawmakers move to curb repeat speeders. Streets demand fewer deadly risks.

Assembly bill A 2299, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Assembly. Introduced January 16, 2025, the bill 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during a 24 month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Primary sponsor Emily Gallagher leads a bloc of co-sponsors, including Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, and others. The measure aims to clamp down on repeat speeders with mandatory speed-limiting tech. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 2299, Open States, Published 2025-01-16

Dec 18 - A Nissan sedan turned left at 90th Street and 56th Avenue. The driver, distracted, struck a 65-year-old woman in the crosswalk. The bumper crushed her arm. She stayed conscious as pain radiated through her body. Metal met flesh in the Queens dusk.

A 65-year-old woman was hit by a turning Nissan sedan at the corner of 90th Street and 56th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the woman was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The report states the driver was making a left turn and was distracted at the time of the crash. The left front bumper of the sedan struck the pedestrian’s left side, resulting in crush injuries to her arm. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The woman remained conscious after the impact. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior are cited in the report. The collision underscores the danger posed by inattentive drivers making turns at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781704 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 18 - A 24-year-old woman riding an e-scooter on Queens Boulevard was struck head-on. She was ejected, her head split and bleeding, but she stayed conscious as traffic thundered by. Driver inattention left her broken in the street.

A 24-year-old woman operating an e-scooter was struck head-on near 59-11 Queens Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The impact ejected her from the scooter, causing severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. The police report states that she remained conscious at the scene. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Driver Inattention/Distraction,' highlighting a systemic danger on city streets. The report notes the absence of helmet use, but only after emphasizing the role of driver distraction. The collision underscores the peril faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781101 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 21 - A turning SUV cut across 72nd Street. A motorcycle slammed into its side. The young rider, helmetless, flew from the seat, legs shattered, blood pooling on the pavement. The road bore witness to violence and error, not mercy.

According to the police report, a Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle was making a left turn from 72nd Street near Northern Boulevard in Queens when a motorcycle traveling straight collided with the SUV's right side doors. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected from his seat, suffered severe bleeding, and sustained serious injuries to his legs. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV driver’s failure to yield during the turn is explicitly cited. The motorcycle rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail appears after the primary driver errors. The crash unfolded at 3:19 p.m., leaving the rider incoherent and gravely hurt, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver mistakes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 26 - A moped, driven too fast and without a license, slammed into a 61-year-old man crossing Woodside Avenue. Both men fell. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The machine lay shattered. The street bore the mark of reckless speed.

According to the police report, a moped traveling east on Woodside Avenue near 67th Street struck a 61-year-old pedestrian mid-block. Both the pedestrian and the moped rider, age 34, suffered severe bleeding and injuries to their entire bodies. The report states the moped was operated at 'Unsafe Speed' and that the driver was 'Unlicensed.' The Zongzhen moped sustained heavy front-end damage. The narrative describes the moped as tearing down the street 'too fast,' before colliding with the pedestrian. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian was crossing the street outside a crosswalk or signal, but no pedestrian actions are cited as contributing factors. The focus remains on the unlicensed, speeding driver whose actions left two people bleeding on the pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743841 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 9 - A moped swung left on Broadway, its front end smashing into a woman crossing with the light. Blood pooled from her head. She stayed awake. The street kept moving. Failure to yield cut her down in the crosswalk.

A 45-year-old woman was injured at the corner of Broadway and Justice Avenue when a southbound moped turned left and struck her, according to the police report. The report states the moped's 'front struck a 45-year-old woman crossing with the signal.' She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The police report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor in the crash. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal, as documented in the report, placing the onus of the collision on the moped driver's failure to yield. The impact occurred at the center front end of the moped, underscoring the directness of the strike. The narrative makes clear: the driver’s left turn and failure to yield led to a violent collision in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741232 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 19 - A motorcycle tore down 57th Avenue and crashed into parked cars. Two young men, 24 and 25, were hurled into the street. Both died. Steel crushed bodies. The bike’s front end crumpled. The street ran red and silent.

According to the police report, a motorcycle with two young men, aged 24 and 25, collided with parked cars on 57th Avenue at 8:20 a.m. Both occupants were ejected and killed, suffering severe crush injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The motorcycle’s driver was unlicensed, according to the vehicle data. One rider wore a helmet, the other did not, but helmet use is noted only after the primary driver errors. The motorcycle’s front end was destroyed against the steel of parked vehicles. The report describes the aftermath in stark terms: bodies thrown, the bike mangled, the street marked by loss. The data centers the lethal consequences of improper lane use and unlicensed operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725812 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

May 4 - A distracted SUV driver turned left on 65th Street. A moped slammed into the bumper. The rider crashed, blood streaming from his head onto the pavement. He lay conscious, helmetless, as the SUV’s torn bumper marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV was making a left turn at the corner of 65th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens when a southbound moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV’s right front bumper. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe bleeding from the head, remaining conscious at the scene. The narrative describes blood pouring from his head onto the pavement. The SUV’s bumper was torn in the crash. The police report notes the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is mentioned only after the driver error. The crash underscores the danger posed when drivers fail to pay attention while turning across traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 24 - A moped struck a turning sedan on Queens Boulevard. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, silent, as speed and steel tore through the evening air.

At Queens Boulevard and 69th Street, a moped traveling east collided violently with a sedan making a right turn. According to the police report, the primary cause was 'Unsafe Speed.' The impact severely injured the 17-year-old moped driver, resulting in the amputation of part of his lower arm and hand. The report states, 'A moped slammed into a turning sedan. A 17-year-old boy lost part of his arm. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed awake. He did not scream.' Damage was concentrated on the sedan's right front quarter panel and the moped's center front end. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the dangers posed by excessive speed in urban traffic. No victim behavior was listed as contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720532 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Apr 23 - A man crossed Roosevelt Avenue before dawn. A Ford SUV hit him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.

A 38-year-old man was killed while crossing Roosevelt Avenue near 70th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 5:10 a.m. when a 2011 Ford SUV, traveling east, struck the pedestrian in the chest with its center front end. The report states the man was crossing outside an intersection, with no signal or crosswalk present. The narrative notes, 'A man crossed alone before dawn. A 2011 Ford SUV struck him chest-first. The street was quiet. He died there, broken beneath the grille, his body still in the hush of morning.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian, offering no further explanation for the fatal impact. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of vehicle movement through pedestrian space in the early morning hours.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18