De Blasio Calls For Tougher State Laws To Keep Dangerous Drivers Off The Roads
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new push for tougher state laws to keep dangerous drivers off the roads after two young children were killed in a crash in Brooklyn.
The proposal includes expanding red light cameras and higher fines for repeat red light and speed offenders.
"If you don't drive the right way, someone could die," he said.
The push comes after the deaths of 4-year-old Abigail Blumenstein and 1-year-old Joshua Lew in a crash that also injured their mothers, 33-year-old Lauren Lew and Broadway actress, 34-year-old Ruthie Ann Blumenstein, who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time.
"We want to use every tool possible to stop these crashes and protect our children," the mayor said Thursday.
The 44-year-old driver told police at the scene that she had a seizure. She then suffered two strokes in the hospital. She was driving with a valid license at the time, which has since been suspended pending a Department of Motor Vehicles investigation.
De Blasio was joined by Cara Cancelmo, a victim of another out-of-control driver.
"Five years ago, I left my friends home, and a speeding taxi driver crashed into my body. My right shoulder was shattered," she said. "Without change and immediate action, more children will die."
The mayor is calling on the state to authorize 150 additional speed enforcement cameras around school zones and escalate fines for repeat red light and speed camera offenders.
The first two tickets are $50. A fine of $150 would be for the third strike and by the sixth ticket, a revocation of a driver's license.
De Blasio is also pushing for state lawmakers to enact a bill that would require physicians to report conditions that would make a driver suddenly lose control to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
"We're talking about if a doctor identifies a specific condition like a propensity to seizures that could cause someone without any warning to be unable to control their car," the mayor said. "Someone in that situation should not be able to drive that car."
Laws that require medical reports to the DMV have already been enacted in states like New Jersey.
As CBS2's Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported, more speed cameras are not popular in Albany. A spokesperson for Senate Republicans told CBS2 that senators think more cops would be far more effective, because they can check driver records and issue moving violations with points. They're also opposed to asking New Yorkers to pay more fines.
"I think this is a matter where every member of the Senate will be held personally accountable by their constituents," de Blasio said.
But some New Yorkers agree with the Republicans.
"I think we need more like discipline in patrolling the streets," one man said.
"They sell it as safety, but I don't know how good it is actually," another added.
The mayor insisted the Legislature act on all his proposals by June.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said the city is also looking to re-design dangerous intersections to increase pedestrian safety.
