Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

Bullets ripped through glass. Officers bled. A driver fled, crashed, and was caught. Two guns found. No shots fired back. Broken glass sent two to the hospital. The street stayed silent after chaos. Charges still wait.

According to amny (published May 12, 2025), two Staten Island police officers were injured during a traffic stop on Port Richmond Avenue. Officers tried to pull over a Nissan SUV for tinted windows. The driver did not stop, then 'allegedly opened fire on the officers, sending bullets hurtling into their vehicle and shards of glass cascading into them.' The officers did not return fire. The driver crashed into a parked car and was arrested at the scene. Two guns were recovered from the vehicle. Both officers were hospitalized for injuries from broken glass. Charges against the driver are pending as the investigation continues. The incident highlights the dangers of traffic stops and the risks posed by armed drivers.

• Gunfire, Crash Injure Officers In Stop, amny, Published 2025-05-12

Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

Senator Lanza backs S 7085. The bill lets drivers escape speed camera fines if the ticket notice is missing, wrong, or unreadable. No mention of safety for people on foot or bike.

Senate bill S 7085, sponsored by Andrew J. Lanza (District 24), is at the sponsorship stage. The bill, introduced April 1, 2025, allows dismissal of speed camera violations if required information on the notice is omitted, misdescribed, or illegible. The matter title states: 'Relates to the contents of a notice of liability issued for a speed camera violation.' Lanza is the primary sponsor. There is no safety analyst note or assessment of the bill’s impact on vulnerable road users.

• File S 7085, Open States, Published 2025-04-01

A female SUV driver suffered chest injuries after a collision on Huguenot Avenue. The crash involved alcohol, impacting the vehicle’s front left. The driver was conscious and restrained, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving in NYC streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:53 on Huguenot Avenue involving a 2011 Chevrolet SUV traveling south. The driver, a 37-year-old female occupant, was injured with chest contusions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, causing damage to the center front end. The report cites alcohol involvement as the primary contributing factor, indicating impaired driving played a critical role in the collision. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. This incident underscores the systemic danger posed by alcohol-impaired vehicle operation on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802077 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A police cruiser swerved from a U-turning car and crashed into a building. Two officers went to the hospital. The street bore the scars. Metal, glass, brick—shattered. Sirens cut the air. The city’s danger showed, again.

ABC7 reported on March 15, 2025, that two NYPD officers crashed their cruiser into a building at Victory Boulevard and Montgomery Street in Staten Island. The officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. According to the article, 'another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn, causing the police cruiser to swerve to avoid a collision.' Both officers were hospitalized and are expected to recover. The crash highlights the risks of sudden maneuvers and U-turns on busy city streets. No bystanders were reported injured. The incident underscores the persistent dangers posed by unpredictable driver actions and the high stakes of emergency response in dense urban environments.

• Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15

A car struck Chaosheng Wu, 80, as he crossed Hylan Boulevard. He died at the hospital. The driver stayed. Police probe speed and signals. Dongan Hills mourns its first traffic death of the year. The street remains dangerous.

Gothamist reported on March 10, 2025, that an 80-year-old man, Chaosheng Wu, was killed crossing Hylan Boulevard at Benton Avenue in Staten Island. The crash happened at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Police said a 65-year-old woman driving a 2008 Ford Edge hit Wu as he crossed from the east. Wu was pronounced dead at Staten Island University North Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. Police are 'still investigating how fast the woman was driving and what the traffic signals at the intersection were displaying at the time.' Wu's death marks the first traffic fatality this year in the 122nd Precinct. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians on busy city streets.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed on Hylan Boulevard, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-10

A 52-year-old Staten Island driver suffered back injuries after a collision caused by driver inattention and an improper U-turn. The sedan struck an SUV, damaging both vehicles. The driver was conscious, restrained, and sustained bruises and contusions.

At 9:40 AM on Staten Island's Woodrow Rd near Alexander Ave, a 52-year-old male driver in a 2007 sedan was injured in a crash. According to the police report, the driver was making a U-turn and collided with a 2013 SUV traveling northeast. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained a back injury classified as contusion and bruise but was conscious and not ejected. The impact occurred at the sedan's left front quarter panel and the SUV's right front bumper. The data highlights driver error as the cause, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795575 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senator Lanza pushes S 4705 to kill congestion pricing. Streets risk more cars, more chaos. Vulnerable New Yorkers face louder, deadlier roads. The city’s shield cracks.

Senate bill S 4705, sponsored by Andrew J. Lanza (District 24), seeks to repeal congestion pricing. The bill, introduced on February 11, 2025, is at the sponsorship stage. The measure’s title is blunt: 'Repeals congestion pricing.' Lanza’s move would scrap a system designed to cut car traffic and crashes. No safety analyst has weighed in, but repealing congestion pricing means more cars, more risk, and more danger for people on foot and bike. The bill’s progress threatens hard-won protections for New York’s most vulnerable.

• File S 4705, Open States, Published 2025-02-11

Assembly bill A 4147 orders bold yellow signs near speed cameras. Signs must stand within fifty feet. Drivers get clear warning. Sponsors push for visibility. No mention of direct safety gains for walkers or riders.

Assembly bill A 4147 was introduced on January 31, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to requirements for signs providing notice of the use of a photo speed violation monitoring system,' demands that warning signs be primarily yellow and placed within fifty feet of speed cameras. Assembly Members Mike Reilly (primary sponsor), Michael Novakhov, and Joe DeStefano back the measure. The bill aims for clearer notice to drivers. There is no analyst note on its impact for vulnerable road users.

• File A 4147, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

Assembly bill A 4214 lets drivers escape speed camera tickets if paperwork is sloppy. Missing, wrong, or unreadable info means no fine. Vulnerable road users lose a layer of protection.

Assembly bill A 4214, sponsored by Mike Reilly (District 62) with Michael Novakhov and Joe DeStefano, sits at the sponsorship stage. Introduced January 31, 2025, it reads: 'Permits a violation captured by a speed camera to be dismissed...if any information...is omitted...misdescribed or illegible.' The bill weakens speed camera enforcement by letting drivers dodge tickets on technicalities. No safety analyst has weighed in, but the measure chips away at a tool that slows cars and shields people on foot and bike.

• File A 4214, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

A sedan struck a parked SUV on Veterans Rd E. The 80-year-old driver suffered arm abrasions. Police cited driver inattention. Metal crumpled. The street stayed silent. Systemic danger lingered.

According to the police report, at 7:30 pm on Veterans Rd E, Staten Island, a sedan traveling east crashed into a parked SUV. The sedan’s left front bumper hit the SUV’s center back end. The sedan’s 80-year-old driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The SUV was unoccupied. No other errors or behaviors were noted. The sedan’s front end and the SUV’s rear bumper were damaged. This crash shows the persistent threat of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Republican lawmakers blasted MTA chief Janno Lieber. They called for his resignation. They slammed the new $9 congestion toll. They dismissed claims of safer subways. They warned of more taxes. Riders and walkers remain caught in the crossfire.

""We are asking for something that we believe is very necessary for the well-being of the people of the state of New York, especially for those who live in the MTA region. We believe that under these circumstances it is very warranted."" -- Andrew Lanza

On January 8, 2025, Republican state legislators, including Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (District 9), held a press conference demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber. The lawmakers, joined by Senators Steven Rhoads and Bill Weber, criticized Lieber for 'losing the trust of commuters' and downplaying subway crime. They condemned the new $9 congestion pricing toll for Midtown, with Weber calling it 'tone deaf' and demanding repeal. The event summary reads: 'GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees.' The lawmakers oppose further taxes and fees to close the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate leaves the city’s most exposed—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—uncertain and unprotected.

• GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-08

Two SUVs collided on Arden Ave after one stopped in traffic. The rear vehicle, driven by a distracted driver speeding, struck the front vehicle’s center back end. A rear passenger suffered neck injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 12:36 a.m. on Arden Ave involving two SUVs traveling south. The front vehicle was stopped in traffic when the rear vehicle, driven by a licensed female driver, struck it at the center back end. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the rear driver. A 46-year-old female rear passenger in the front vehicle was injured, suffering neck injuries consistent with whiplash and experiencing shock. She was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The collision caused center front end damage to the rear vehicle and center back end damage to the front vehicle. The police report highlights driver errors—distraction and unsafe speed—as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780477 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 51-year-old woman suffered a head injury crossing at a marked crosswalk on Winant Ave. A pick-up truck making a left turn struck her despite the crosswalk. Glare and driver failure to yield right-of-way contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Winant Ave near Mason Blvd in Staten Island. The collision occurred at 8:30 AM when a 2023 Ford pick-up truck, traveling southeast and making a left turn, struck her at the center front end. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and was conscious with a concussion. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the truck driver as a primary contributing factor, compounded by glare conditions. The vehicle sustained no damage. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The crash highlights driver error in yielding to pedestrians at intersections under challenging visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780198 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

A 71-year-old man crossing Huguenot Avenue was struck by an eastbound SUV making a left turn. The impact caused upper arm injuries and shock. The pedestrian was outside a crosswalk and no driver contributing factors were specified in the report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:55 on Huguenot Avenue in Staten Island. A 2024 Nissan SUV, traveling east, was making a left turn when it struck a 71-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage there. The pedestrian suffered an upper arm injury and was reported in shock but had no visible complaints. The report lists the pedestrian's crossing location as 'Pedestrian Not at Intersection' and notes unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited in the data. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. The report focuses on the collision dynamics without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777047 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 33-year-old man suffered neck injuries and whiplash after his sedan struck an object with its right front bumper. The crash, caused by driver inattention and distraction, left the driver conscious but injured late at night on Arthur Kill Road.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male driver was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Arthur Kill Road at 11:14 p.m. The driver, who was the sole occupant of a 2012 Nissan sedan traveling southeast, collided with an object impacting the vehicle's right front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Animals Action' as contributing factors. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness but sustained neck injuries described as whiplash with an injury severity level of 3. The crash resulted from the driver's failure to maintain attention, leading to the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved or injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775589 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Arthur Kill Road. Both drivers, men aged 70 and 86, suffered arm injuries. Airbags deployed. Lap belt and harness used. No pedestrians involved. Impact left both cars damaged and drivers hurt.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed at 13:11 on Arthur Kill Road near W Service Road. A 2021 Mazda, heading west, went straight and struck a 1999 Volvo making a left turn southeast. Both drivers, men aged 70 and 86, were injured. The older driver suffered shoulder and upper arm abrasions; the younger had elbow, lower arm, and hand injuries with minor bleeding. The Mazda’s airbag deployed. The Volvo driver wore a lap belt and harness. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. No pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the danger of vehicle maneuvers at intersections and the injuries suffered by those inside.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04