Community News
22 JUNE 2018 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
Photo via nysenate.gov
Call For Strict
Driver Penalties
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Soon after cyclist Aaron Padwee
was tragically run over and killed by an
unlicensed truck driver in Long Island
City, a local lawmaker demanded that
the state legislature pass increased
penalties against reckless, unlicensed
drivers.
On May 30, a day after the deadly
crash, Gianaris called for assembly
passage of legislation that would increase
the penalty for reckless drivers
from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Under the senator's bill, the penalty
for drivers who operate a vehicle with
suspended, revoked or no license would
be increased to a Class E felony if a
person is seriously injured and a Class
D felony if the incident results in death.
“While we are still learning the details
of this horrific crash, we know that
not enough is being done to deliver
justice to the victims of traffic crashes.
Dangerous, suspended drivers pose a
threat to public safety due to laws that
do not treat these offenses seriously
enough. If this driver’s suspension was
due to reckless driving, we face another
preventable tragedy. We must be serious
about strengthening our laws to
keep these menaces off the roads,”
said Gianaris.
In April 2018, the senator's legislation
passed unanimously in the New
York State Senate, and is currently
awaiting action in the assembly. If it
gets assembly approval, it will get sent
to the governor who will either sign or
veto the bill.
The crash happened on May 29
when 45-year-old Padwee was riding
his bike on 21st Street and 46th
Avenue in Long Island City. The unsuspecting
cyclist was hit by a car door
after a driver opened it into oncoming
traffic. Padwee was then flung into the
street and run over by a box truck driver.
Padwee succumbed to his injuries
at New York-Presbyterian/Queens
hospital in Flushing. The operator of
the truck, Augustin Osorio, 32, was
arrested and charged with aggravated
unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the
third degree for allegedly driving his
vehicle without a valid license.
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