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Bill

S 3717

Establishes the class E felony of official interference with transportation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Lanza

New York bill creates Class E felony for public officials who improperly interfere with transportation systems or services.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3717

Legislative bill overview

S 3717 creates a new Class E felony in New York State law specifically targeting "official interference with transportation." The bill appears designed to criminalize actions by public officials who improperly obstruct, delay, or interfere with transportation systems or services. This would be a felony-level offense rather than a misdemeanor, carrying more severe penalties.

Why is this important

Transportation infrastructure is critical to economic activity, emergency services, and public welfare. Criminalizing official misconduct in this area could deter corruption or abuse of power by government employees who control transportation systems. However, the vague language raises questions about what conduct actually triggers this felony and whether it could be applied inconsistently.

Potential points of contention

  • Vague definition: The bill's language "official interference with transportation" lacks specificity about what actions constitute the crime, potentially leading to overly broad or inconsistent prosecution
  • Scope unclear: It's uncertain whether this applies to transit workers, city planners, DOT officials, or all public employees, and what specific acts (delays, redirects, shutdowns) cross into criminality
  • Felony threshold: Classifying this as a Class E felony (rather than misdemeanor) represents serious criminal liability that may be disproportionate depending on actual conduct involved

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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