No More Bodies in the Crosswalk: Demand Action Now

Council passed a law forcing DOT to report cars with unreadable plates dodging cameras. The bill targets drivers hiding their plates from red light and speed cameras. Reports must show where, when, and how plates go unseen. Data goes public, every quarter.

Int 0712-2022, now enacted as Local Law 155 of 2023, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council on October 19, 2023. The law, sponsored by Gale A. Brewer with co-sponsors including Erik D. Bottcher, Lincoln Restler, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to report on vehicles with license plates unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems. The law’s title states it is 'in relation to reporting on motor vehicles with license plates that are unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems.' DOT must post quarterly reports showing the time, location, and reasons plates evade cameras—whether by concealment, distortion, or missing tags. The law aims to expose drivers who dodge automated enforcement, shining light on a loophole that puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The reports must be public and sent to the Mayor and Council Speaker.

• File Int 0712-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Council passed Int 1164-2023. The law forces DOT to map out where street safety money goes. It tracks past investment, crash rates, and who gets left behind. The city must show its work, district by district. No more hiding the gaps.

Int 1164-2023, now enacted, amends the city code to require an 'investment roadmap' in every Streets Master Plan starting December 1, 2026. The bill moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passing on October 19, 2023, and became law on November 19, 2023. The law states: 'The department shall prioritize and promote...the safety of all street users...and improving equity in infrastructure investment.' Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley (primary), with Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Hanif, Brewer, Restler, and Rivera as co-sponsors, the bill demands DOT report, by neighborhood, on safety infrastructure investment, crash rates, and demographics. It shines a light on which districts get safety upgrades and which are left exposed. The roadmap aims to close the gap for underserved areas, forcing transparency and accountability for every dollar spent on street safety.

• File Int 1164-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Three cars tangled on Belt Parkway. Steel twisted. A 24-year-old man died behind the wheel. His body crushed. The night swallowed him. Failure to yield and unsafe speed fueled the crash. No help came in time.

A deadly crash unfolded on Belt Parkway’s eastbound lanes. According to the police report, a BMW clipped the side of a Toyota. A Honda then struck head-on. Three vehicles collided. The 24-year-old male driver of one car died, his body crushed by the impact. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The crash left twisted metal and a life lost. No other injuries were reported. The police report offers no mention of helmet or signal use. The night ended with one man dead and three cars destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671473, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan struck a woman on Belt Parkway. She crossed outside a crosswalk. The car’s right front bumper hit her. She fell, suffered a head wound, and died under the highway lights. The road stayed silent. No driver error listed.

A 40-year-old woman was killed while crossing Belt Parkway at night. According to the police report, 'A woman, 40, stepped into the dark. A 2017 Volkswagen struck her with its right front bumper. She fell with a head wound and died there, alone, beneath the sweep of highway lights.' The crash occurred as the sedan traveled eastbound. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. The report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are noted in the data. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669429, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Dodge pickup turned left on Flatlands Avenue. A 26-year-old cyclist rode straight. Metal hit skull. Pads failed. Blood pooled on the street. The sun beat down. The driver failed to yield. The cyclist lay injured, head split, eyes wide.

A Dodge pickup truck turned left at the corner of East 59th Street and Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. A 26-year-old male cyclist, heading straight, collided with the truck. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was the contributing factor. The cyclist suffered a severe head injury and lay bleeding on the asphalt, in shock. The report notes he wore pads, but they offered no protection against the impact. The crash left the cyclist with a split head and severe bleeding. The truck driver’s failure to yield led to the violent collision. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4660306, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

The Council passed a law forcing DOT to map every bike lane, hazard, and obstruction. Cyclists and pedestrians get a clear look at danger. The searchable map must show blocked lanes, crash sites, and repairs. No more hiding unsafe streets.

Int 0289-2022, now Local Law 124 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council on September 3, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law requires the Department of Transportation to publish a monthly-updated, searchable map of all city bike lanes. The map must show obstructions, construction, crash patterns, shared paths, conflict points, resurfacing, parking, bike share docks, open streets, repair shops, and reporting tools. The bill’s matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to develop a map of bicycle infrastructure conditions.' Council Member Crystal Hudson sponsored the bill, joined by Rivera, Sanchez, Stevens, Yeger, Restler, Avilés, and others. The law brings sunlight to hidden hazards, giving vulnerable road users the facts they need to see the city’s dangers in plain sight.

• File Int 0289-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A young man on a motorcycle struck a parked sedan on Avenue N. He flew from the bike, face-first, bleeding on the street. The crash left him conscious but badly hurt. Traffic control was ignored. The road bore the mark of impact.

A 21-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and severely injured after colliding with a parked sedan on Avenue N near East 56th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A helmetless rider slammed into a parked sedan, face-first. The bike crumpled. He flew. Blood pooled on hot asphalt. At 21, he lay conscious, ejected, bleeding, the light behind him ignored.' The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary cause cited is the failure to obey traffic control. The sedan was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650157, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council members push to end jaywalking penalties. Supporters cite biased enforcement. Critics warn of danger for pedestrians. The bill faces debate as traffic deaths fall but injuries persist. The city weighs safety against fairness in street crossings.

On July 22, 2023, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse introduced a bill to legalize jaywalking in New York City. The measure, supported by Council Members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, aims to 'greenlight pedestrians to freely cross streets outside the crosswalk or without obeying traffic signals.' The bill responds to claims of biased enforcement against Black and Latino New Yorkers. Council Majority Leader Joseph Borelli and Councilwoman Joann Ariola oppose the bill, warning it could endanger pedestrians. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or received a hearing. The NYPD and Mayor's office are reviewing the legislation. The debate highlights the tension between enforcement fairness and the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users. No formal safety analysis has been provided.

• Far-left NYC Council Dems push to legalize jaywalking, nypost.com, Published 2023-07-22

A BMW turned left across Rockaway Parkway. A motorcycle hit the sedan head-on. The rider, 34, was thrown and killed. His head struck hard. Failure to yield ended his life. Brooklyn’s night swallowed another victim.

A deadly crash took place at Rockaway Parkway and Skidmore Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a BMW sedan made a left turn and a southbound motorcycle crashed into its right side doors. The 34-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and died at the scene from head injuries. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The BMW driver was licensed and uninjured. The motorcycle rider was unlicensed. The report also notes 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Alcohol Involvement' for the motorcycle rider. No other injuries were reported. The police narrative states: 'A BMW turned left. A motorcycle slammed head-on. The rider, 34, unlicensed, flew through the dark. His head struck. Crushed. Dead on the street.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646703, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to legalize crossing streets anywhere, even against signals. No more penalties for jaywalking. The measure aimed to strip state law and let pedestrians move freely. The session ended before action. Vulnerable users remain exposed.

Int 1125-2023, introduced July 13, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sought to amend city law on pedestrian crossing and right of way. The bill stated: “Pedestrians may cross any roadway at any point, including outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and allow for crossing against traffic signals. It would legalize the activity commonly referred to as ‘jaywalking’ and specify that no penalties can be imposed for jaywalking.” Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by Narcisse, Won, Farías, Hanif, Ayala, Richardson Jordan, Krishnan, and Nurse. The bill superseded state law and removed penalties for pedestrian movement. Filed at session’s end, it did not advance. Vulnerable road users still face the same risks at crossings.

• File Int 1125-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-07-13

A young motorcyclist hit a sedan’s rear as both changed lanes. He flew from his bike. His arm split open. The sedan’s driver had no license. The road ran red. Metal and flesh paid the price.

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was injured on Belt Parkway after striking the rear quarter panel of a sedan during a lane change. According to the police report, both vehicles were eastbound and changing lanes when the crash occurred. The motorcyclist was ejected, suffered severe lacerations to his arm, and was wearing a helmet. The sedan’s driver was unlicensed. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing,' 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper,' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the sedan driver and improper lane usage created a dangerous situation. The motorcyclist was left conscious but badly hurt. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644332, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

City Council urged Albany to let cyclists treat stop signs as yield, red lights as stop. The bill stalled. Supporters say it would keep cyclists moving and out of harm’s way. The measure drew broad council support but died at session’s end.

Resolution 0590-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2643/A.3986. This state bill would 'allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and red lights as stop signs.' The resolution was introduced April 27, 2023, and filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. Sponsors included Mercedes Narcisse (primary), Lincoln Restler, Julie Won, Shekar Krishnan, Gale Brewer, Kevin Riley, Kristin Richardson Jordan, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The council cited studies showing safety benefits for all road users, noting that the Idaho stop 'gives bicyclists greater flexibility at stop signs and red lights, and thus, enhance[s] road safety.' The bill did not advance but signaled strong support for cyclist safety.

• File Res 0590-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council passed a law forcing DOT to daylight at least 100 intersections a year. No parking near corners. Physical barriers like planters or bike corrals will block cars. High-crash spots get priority. The city must report progress. Streets change. Lives depend on it.

Int 0854-2022, now enacted as Local Law 66 of 2023, passed the City Council on April 27, 2023, after review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law requires the Department of Transportation to 'implement daylighting at a minimum of 100 intersections a year,' meaning no parking within 15 feet of corners. High-crash intersections must be prioritized unless deemed infeasible. DOT must also install physical daylighting features, such as planters or bike corrals, where possible. Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hudson, Ossé, and others. The law took effect 90 days after enactment. DOT must report annually on locations and reasons for any exceptions. This measure targets the blind spots that kill and injure pedestrians and cyclists at intersections. The city’s streets will see more open corners and fewer hiding places for danger.

• File Int 0854-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council passed a law forcing DOT to study deadly and serious pedestrian crashes every three years. Reports must go to community boards, the mayor, and the public. The bill aims to expose patterns, speed up fixes, and keep pressure on city agencies.

Bill Int 0805-2022, now Local Law 65 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law was introduced on October 27, 2022, passed on May 29, 2023, and returned unsigned by the mayor. The bill amends the administrative code to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study of all pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries every three years, instead of every five. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian safety reporting.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Tiffany Cabán, Lynn C. Schulman, Kalman Yeger, Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Darlene Mealy, Eric Dinowitz, Linda Lee, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Carlina Rivera, Mercedes Narcisse, and Rita C. Joseph. The law mandates that crash reports and recommendations be sent to council members, community boards, and made public. This change increases transparency and keeps the focus on the deadly toll of cars in New York City.

• File Int 0805-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

The Council passed a resolution urging Albany to fully fund the MTA. Lawmakers want more frequent, reliable, and affordable transit. They warn of a looming fiscal cliff. Without action, riders face service cuts. The vote backs millions who depend on buses and trains.

Resolution 0460-2023 was adopted by the City Council on April 27, 2023, after review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The resolution calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor to 'fully fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the State’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the measure, joined by over thirty co-sponsors. The committee vote was unanimous among present members. The resolution highlights the MTA’s critical role for millions of New Yorkers and warns of a 'looming fiscal cliff' as federal aid dries up. The Council insists that full funding is needed to prevent service cuts and keep transit affordable and frequent. The measure references the 'New York City in Six' plan, pushing for buses and trains every six minutes. The Council’s action centers the needs of riders—especially those with no other way to move safely through the city.

• File Res 0460-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

The council passed a law forcing DOT to install traffic calming devices near senior centers. At least fifty new devices each year. Streets where elders walk will see more barriers between them and speeding cars. The city must report every installation.

Bill Int 0679-2022, now Local Law 63 of 2023, was enacted on May 29, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of traffic calming devices in senior pedestrian zones.' Council Member Darlene Mealy sponsored the bill, joined by co-sponsors including Amanda Farías, Tiffany Cabán, and others. The council voted overwhelmingly in favor on April 27, 2023. The law requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department for the Aging, to annually install at least one traffic calming device in each designated senior pedestrian zone, with a minimum of fifty devices citywide per year. DOT must report installation locations to the council every year. The law aims to slow traffic and protect older pedestrians where they are most at risk.

• File Int 0679-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A 91-year-old man rode his e-bike on Belt Parkway. He was thrown from the seat. His head struck the ground. Blood pooled. He spoke nonsense, then fell silent. The e-bike coasted on. The man did not rise.

A 91-year-old man riding an e-bike on Belt Parkway was killed after being ejected from his seat. According to the police report, 'A 91-year-old man on an e-bike was thrown from the seat. No helmet. His head struck. He bled. He spoke nonsense. The bike coasted on. The bumper was clean. The man did not get up.' The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Passenger Distraction' as contributing factors. The man suffered a fatal head injury and was described as incoherent before succumbing. No vehicle damage was reported. The absence of a helmet is noted in the report, but only after the contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610950, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15