Establishes the crime of aggravated obstructing emergency medical services for conduct which obstructs the efforts of certain emergency services, personnel or systems while obstructing traffic or posing a risk of serious physical injury; permits forfeiture.
Summary
Bill A05839 seeks to amend the penal law and vehicle and traffic law in New York by establishing the offense of aggravated obstructing emergency medical services. This offense is defined as intentionally and unreasonably obstructing the efforts of emergency medical services personnel while either obstructing vehicular traffic or posing a risk of serious physical injury to others. The bill classifies this offense as a class E felony, which carries specific legal repercussions for those found guilty.
Impact
If enacted, this bill would introduce a new criminal offense into New York's penal law, specifically targeting actions that hinder emergency medical services. It would also amend existing vehicle and traffic laws to include provisions for the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles involved in such obstructive conduct. This change aims to enhance the protection of emergency services and ensure that they can operate without interference, thereby potentially improving public safety outcomes.
Sentiment
The general sentiment surrounding Bill A05839 appears to be mixed, as indicated by the voting results from the Assembly Codes Committee where it received 16 votes in favor and 6 against. The discussion around the bill has not been extensively documented, but the division in votes suggests that there are differing opinions on the necessity and implications of the proposed legislation.
Contention
Notable points of contention include concerns about the potential for overreach in defining what constitutes obstruction of emergency services and the implications of classifying such actions as felonies. Some committee members may argue that existing laws are sufficient to address these issues, while others advocate for stronger measures to protect emergency responders.
Same As
Establishes the crime of aggravated obstructing emergency medical services for conduct which obstructs the efforts of certain emergency services, personnel or systems while obstructing traffic or posing a risk of serious physical injury; permits forfeiture.
Establishes the crime of aggravated obstructing emergency medical services for conduct which obstructs the efforts of certain emergency services, personnel or systems while obstructing traffic or posing a risk of serious physical injury; permits forfeiture.
Civil practice; affirmative defenses; limitation of liability for damages sustained for obstructing traffic for the obstruction of vehicle traffic, established
Civil practice; affirmative defenses; limitation of liability for damages sustained for obstructing traffic for the obstruction of vehicle traffic, established
Civil practice; affirmative defenses; limitation of liability for damages sustained for obstructing traffic for the obstruction of vehicle traffic, established
Payment rates established for certain substance use disorder treatment services, and vendor eligibility recodified for payments from the behavioral health fund.
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