Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation S.4671/A.3983, Angelica’s Law, which protects New Yorkers from reckless or dangerous driving. The law decreases the number of prior license suspensions needed to qualify for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, a class E felony. Governor Hochul signed the legislation at the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Garden City location, joined by the family of Angelica Nappi who lost her life after being killed by a driver with multiple prior suspensions.
“Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “After Angelica Nappi tragically lost her life more than a decade ago, her family have channeled their pain into purpose to push for this legislation. I’m honored to stand with Angelica’s family as we sign this law and make our roads safer for all.”
Angelica Nappi of Holbrook was just 14 in 2008 when she was struck and killed by a driver who did not have a valid license and who had more than five previous driver’s license suspensions. Angelica’s Law will help to keep drivers with prior suspensions off of the road by applying a felony to recidivist drivers who operate vehicles without a valid license after having committed five or more moving violations resulting in prior suspensions or revocations.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark Schroeder said, “It is our mission at DMV and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. This law will put persistently dangerous drivers on notice. I applaud the Governor, Legislature and Angelica’s mother for advocating for this important legislation that will make our streets safer for all.”
State Senator Kevin Thomas said, “At a time when we are seeing an alarming rise in fatal crashes across Long Island endangering people of all ages, I am thankful to Governor Hochul for enacting Angelica’s Law, named in honor of Angelica Nappi who had her life cruelly taken by a driver with seven prior suspensions in 2008. Today is a triumph for Angelica’s mother, Dawn, who has fought to make our roads safer for over 15 years in her daughter’s memory because she knew these changes were possible and necessary. These changes will send a clear message to drivers who repeatedly break the law that they will face severe consequences for their criminal actions. Preventable deaths such as Angelica's have been caused by reckless and dangerous drivers – and they must be taken off the road.”
Assemblymember Fred Thiele said, "Our public highways, especially on Long Island, can be a dangerous place. Improving highway safety must always be our paramount goal for New York. One of the greatest threats to the public is the proliferation of unlicensed drivers who continue to operate motor vehicles, despite being repeatedly cited for having a suspended or revoked license. Angelica Nappi was a tragic victim of one of these reckless and irresponsible drivers. I thank her mother, Dawn Nappi, for her selfless persistence to ensure that other parents not suffer the tragic loss she has endured. Her advocacy for "Angelica's Law was compelling to our colleagues in Albany. Angelica's Law will provide a meaningful deterrent to the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The new law will reduce the number offenses by half for a felony conviction for aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation making our roads less perilous."
Angelica’s Mom, Dawn Riendeau, said, "Almost 16 years later, my fight for safer roadways has been acted upon. I know Angelica is proud."
Angelica's Law builds on Governor Hochul's commitment to making New York's roads safer by cracking down on dangerous drivers. In September, in response to the Governor's 2023 State of the State message, the Department of Motor Vehicles proposed regulatory changes to bolster its ability to remove drivers who engage in risky behavior from roadways and to make it more difficult for persistent violators to get back their driving privileges.