One Dead, Hundreds Hurt—Councilman, Where’s Your Outrage?

Council targets hidden plates. Bill makes it a crime to park, stop, or drive with covered tags. Fines reach $1,000. Jail time possible. Committee weighs action. Streets demand accountability.

Int 0766-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 11, 2024. The bill reads: “prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.” Council Member Oswald Feliz leads, joined by Holden, Bottcher, Gennaro, Marte, Restler, Ung, and Paladino. The bill sets fines up to $1,000 and possible jail for violators. Each offense is a misdemeanor. The council aims to strip cover for reckless drivers, making it harder to dodge tickets and accountability. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear: end the shield for lawless driving.

• File Int 0766-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A moped crashed into a turning SUV on 167th Street. The rider, nineteen, was thrown partway off, blood streaming from his leg. Brakes failed. He sat stunned in the street, helmet still on, as dawn crept over Queens.

A collision unfolded on 167th Street near Highland Avenue in Queens when a moped struck a turning SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped rider, age nineteen, was partially ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg, remaining in shock at the scene. The incident occurred at 4:34 a.m. The police report explicitly lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical vehicle failure that led to the crash. The SUV was making a left turn while the moped was traveling straight ahead. The moped's brakes failed, resulting in a direct impact with the SUV's left front quarter panel. The rider's helmet remained on, but the report centers the mechanical failure as the primary cause. No driver errors by the SUV operator are cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715523 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants bold signs at every school entrance. Paint on pavement. Metal overhead. The aim: warn drivers, shield kids. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait. Danger does not.

Bill Int 0714-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced March 19, 2024. The bill reads: 'installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, Riley, and Feliz. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to paint and hang school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The goal: alert drivers to children and pedestrians. The bill awaits further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill would pay up to $1,000 for tips that help catch hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill. Police and city workers are barred from rewards. The measure targets unsolved crashes that leave victims behind.

Int 0143-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'establishing a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, Louis, Bottcher, Hudson, Gennaro, and Williams. The bill excludes law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The aim is to mobilize the public to help solve hit-and-run cases, many of which remain unsolved, and bring justice for victims.

• File Int 0143-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council passed a law forcing taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on doors. The signs tell passengers: look for cyclists before you open up. A small step. The city hands out the decals. No cost to drivers.

Int 0193-2024 became law on May 31, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' was sponsored by Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by over twenty council members, including Gutiérrez, Hudson, and Rivera. The law mandates clear warning decals on all rear passenger doors of taxis and for-hire vehicles. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will provide the signs at no cost. The measure aims to cut down on 'dooring'—a threat to cyclists citywide. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to hike fines for riding bikes, e-bikes, and scooters on city sidewalks. The bill targets sidewalk riding with stiffer penalties. No mention of street safety or driver accountability.

Bill Int 0037-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 8, 2024. The measure, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...increasing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist, or electric scooter on the sidewalk,' seeks to raise fines for sidewalk riding. Council Members Stevens (primary), Gennaro, Ung, Brewer, Brannan, and Morano sponsor the bill. The action: referral to committee. The summary states, 'This bill would increase each of the existing civil penalties for operating a bicycle, a bicycle with electric assist (commonly referred to as an “e-bike”), or an electric scooter on the sidewalk.' No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill focuses on penalties, not on street design or driver behavior.

• File Int 0037-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

On Van Wyck Expressway, two sedans collided in the night. Metal tore, glass scattered. An 82-year-old man bled from the face, seatbelt digging in. The Mercedes struck hard, the Hyundai’s rear crushed. The cold road bore witness.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Van Wyck Expressway near Council District 24 at 12:15 a.m. The incident involved a Mercedes and a Hyundai, both traveling north. The Mercedes, registered in New Jersey and driven by a Florida-licensed male, was 'changing lanes' before impact, while the Hyundai was 'going straight ahead.' The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The Hyundai’s left rear bumper was struck by the Mercedes’ right front bumper. An 82-year-old male driver, belted in, suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger of improper lane changes and unsafe speeds, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694308 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans slammed head-on on 67th Avenue. Parked cars shuddered. A 21-year-old woman, belted and conscious, was pinned behind the wheel, her legs crushed. The right-of-way was ignored. Metal screamed. The street held its breath.

A violent head-on collision between two sedans erupted on 67th Avenue near 172nd Street in Queens, according to the police report. The crash left a 21-year-old woman pinned behind the wheel, her legs crushed, conscious but trapped. The report states, 'Two sedans collided head-on. A 21-year-old woman, belted and conscious, was pinned behind the wheel. Her legs crushed. Parked cars took the blow. The right-of-way was not given.' The collision’s contributing factor is listed as 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' This failure to yield directly led to the impact, sending one or both vehicles into parked cars and causing severe injury. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The report centers the systemic danger when drivers disregard right-of-way, turning a street into a site of violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694221 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A concrete mixer rolled south on Parsons Boulevard. A 61-year-old man crossed in the marked lines. The truck struck him. His hip shattered. He lay still, unconscious. The mixer did not stop. The street held the silence.

A 61-year-old pedestrian was struck and seriously injured by a concrete mixer on Parsons Boulevard near Hillside Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the man was crossing in a marked crosswalk when the southbound truck hit him. The impact shattered his hip and left him unconscious with crush injuries. The report states, 'No screech, no scrape. His hip shattered. He lay still. The truck showed no wound, no pause.' The driver, a 62-year-old man, was licensed and driving straight ahead. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The truck sustained no damage and did not stop after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680186 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV turned left on Main Street. The driver failed to yield. Metal hit a man’s head as he crossed with the signal. Blood spread on the crosswalk. The man lay unconscious. The city’s danger showed in the stillness.

A 68-year-old man was crossing Main Street at 68 Drive in Queens with the signal when an SUV turned left and struck him. According to the police report, 'The man crossed with the light. The SUV turned left. Metal struck his head. Blood pooled on the crosswalk. He lay still.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and was found unconscious. The driver was licensed. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The impact hit the left front quarter panel of the SUV. The data shows no other contributing factors from the pedestrian. Systemic danger persists at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670378 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Metal screamed on Grand Central Parkway. Three sedans crashed. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Blood ran down a driver’s face. Five packed into one car. The road did not forgive. One man, conscious, bled in the wreckage.

Three sedans collided eastbound on Grand Central Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three sedans struck. A KIA lay crushed. A Honda’s rear torn. Metal screamed.' A 51-year-old male driver suffered severe bleeding to his face but remained conscious. Five people rode in one vehicle. The KIA was demolished. The Honda’s left rear quarter panel was hit. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are specified in the data. The report does not mention helmet use or turn signals as factors. The crash left at least one person injured and multiple vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670379 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW crashed into a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway. Metal twisted. Glass flew. The BMW driver, 37, suffered a torn head and deep cuts. Police cite inexperience and tailgating. The night echoed with the sound of impact.

A westbound BMW sedan struck the rear of a GMC SUV on the Long Island Expressway at 2:20 a.m. The 37-year-old BMW driver, the only occupant, was injured with severe head lacerations but remained conscious. According to the police report, 'A westbound BMW slammed into the back of a GMC SUV. Metal folded. Glass scattered. The 37-year-old driver, belted but bleeding, sat conscious behind the wheel, his head torn open by speed and inexperience.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The BMW’s front end and the SUV’s rear were both damaged. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash highlights the dangers when drivers lack experience and follow too closely at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660960 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Lexus SUV hit an 18-year-old boy on the Long Island Expressway. He crossed in darkness, no crosswalk, no signal. The impact was head-on. He died alone on the asphalt. The driver kept going straight. The street stayed silent.

An 18-year-old pedestrian was killed when a Lexus SUV struck him head-on on the Long Island Expressway at 3:20 a.m. According to the police report, the boy was crossing outside a crosswalk and without a signal when the SUV hit him. The impact shattered his head and tore his organs. The driver, a licensed woman, was traveling straight ahead and struck the pedestrian with the right front bumper. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657170 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. Thrown from his bike, he landed hard. The drivers fled. He died alone, marked by the violence of impact. The street stayed silent. The danger stayed.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after being struck by two SUVs on 164th Street. According to the police report, 'A 20-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by two SUVs. Thrown from the saddle, he hit the street hard. His body bore the mark of impact. The drivers kept going. He died there, alone.' The crash involved a Mercedes SUV and a Jeep SUV, both traveling south. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The drivers left the scene. No other contributing factors were listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645408 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man crossed Wexford Terrace with the light. A car turned left on red. The driver did not yield. Blood marked the street. The man’s leg split open. He stayed awake. The car showed no dents. The danger was clear.

A 29-year-old man was crossing Wexford Terrace at Edgerton Boulevard with the signal when a car turned left on red and struck him. According to the police report, 'A man crossed with the light. A car turned left on red. No dents on the hood. Blood on the street. His leg split open. He stayed awake. The driver did not yield.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to his lower leg but remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no visible damage. The crash underscores the risk when drivers ignore signals and fail to yield to people in the crosswalk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628121 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed Highland Avenue with the light. Blood spilled from her torn hand. She stood in shock. Traffic kept moving. The signal stayed green. The street did not stop for her.

A 64-year-old woman was hit by a car while crossing Highland Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A 64-year-old woman crossed with the light. A car struck her. Blood spilled from her arm. Her hand was torn.' The woman suffered severe bleeding and injuries to her arm and hand. She stood in silence, stunned, as traffic continued and the signal stayed green. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The woman was crossing at the intersection, following the signal. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan crashed into a parked diesel truck on Van Wyck Expressway. The front passenger, 28, died from head and crush injuries. Alcohol was present. The truck was oversized. The night ended in blood and steel.

A deadly crash unfolded on Van Wyck Expressway when a sedan struck a parked diesel tractor truck. According to the police report, 'A sedan slammed into a parked diesel truck. The front passenger, 28, died from head and crush wounds.' The crash killed the front passenger and left the driver, 31, with pain and nausea. Police listed 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Oversized Vehicle' as contributing factors. The truck was parked and oversized, while alcohol was present in the car. The report does not mention any errors by the passenger. The impact proved fatal for the young man in the front seat.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586699 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A BMW tore down the Long Island Expressway. The driver lost control. Metal twisted. Two young women in the back flew from the car. One died on the road. The other was hurt. Speed killed. The night swallowed the rest.

On the Long Island Expressway, a BMW sedan crashed while speeding westbound. According to the police report, 'A BMW tore through the dark. It hit something. Metal crumpled. An 18-year-old girl, no belt, right rear seat, flew from the car. She landed on the cold road. She did not get up.' The crash killed an 18-year-old woman, ejected from the right rear seat without safety equipment. Another 18-year-old woman, also ejected from the left rear seat, suffered serious injuries. The 20-year-old male driver was found unconscious with head injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows both rear passengers lacked safety equipment, but this is noted only after the driver’s speed error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4587009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04