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A 3586

Relates to establishing a central business district toll exemption for certain employees of the fire department of the city of New York

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stacey Pheffer Amato

Leaves the scene of an accident resulting in death becomes a first-degree crime with up to 20 years imprisonment and non-merging, consecutive sentences.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · A 3586

Summary of Bill A 3586 (New Jersey)

Note on title vs. content: The bill’s official title referenced in the bill information discusses a central business district toll exemption for NYC Fire Department employees. The introduced text and accompanying statement, however, pertain to criminal penalties for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in New Jersey. This summary focuses on the introduced version and its provisions.

Overview

  • Mandates that leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death is elevated from a second-degree crime to a first-degree crime.
  • Addresses penalties, sentencing terms, and related prosecutorial options.
  • Immediate effective date if enacted.
  • Status history: Introduced in the Assembly on February 8, 2024; originally referred to Assembly Judiciary; as of January 28, 2025, referred to Transportation.

Purpose and intent

  • Strengthen accountability for hit-and-run incidents where death results.
  • Create more severe penalties to reflect the severity of death arising from a negligent or intentional departure from the scene.
  • Clarify that multiple related homicide offenses may be charged separately and served consecutively, without merging.

Key provisions

  • Amends N.J.S.2C:11-5.1 (P.L.1997, c.111) so that a motor vehicle operator who knowingly leaves the scene of an accident, under circumstances violating R.S.39:4-129, is guilty of a first-degree crime if death results.
  • Permits additional charges if warranted by evidence: aggravated manslaughter (N.J.S.2C:11-4), reckless vehicular homicide (N.J.S.2C:11-5), or strict liability vehicular homicide (N.J.S.2C:11-5.3).
  • Convictions do not merge with each other; separate sentences shall be imposed for each offense.
  • When imposing multiple sentences for more than one offense, sentences run consecutively (not concurrently).
  • Elements: knowledge of the death or awareness of the violation are not required elements; it is not a defense to claim unawareness of death or violation.
  • Effective date: take effect immediately upon enactment.

Penalties

  • Current law: Second-degree offense for leaving the scene where death occurs (punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to $150,000).
  • Proposed law: First-degree offense for the same scenario (punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to $200,000).

Who is affected

  • Motor vehicle operators involved in accidents who leave the scene and where death occurs.
  • Prosecutors seeking multiple, non-merging charges; courts handling consecutive sentences.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: February 8, 2024.
  • Initially referred to Judiciary; later references show referral to Transportation on January 28, 2025.
  • No specific funding or administrative implementation dates provided beyond the immediate effective date if enacted.

Sponsors and related measures

  • Primary sponsor: Stacey Pheffer Amato.
  • Related bills: A 9558 (prior-session) and S 2630 (companion).
  • Indicates parallel or complementary legislative efforts in different houses or sessions.

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

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