Fines for hit-and-run drivers will jump under legislation passed Wednesday by the City Council.
The bill will hike civil penalties to up to $20,000 for repeat offenders in a crash where someone is killed.
“If you hit someone and leave the scene of the crash, we will find you and punish you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Queens), the sponsor.
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For first time offenders, the bill increases fines to $500 to $1,000 for a hit-and-run with property damage, up from a flat $500 now, and $10,000 to $15,000 when someone is killed, up from $5,000 to $10,000.
For repeat offenders, fines will be $1,000 for crashes involving property damage, $2,000 to $5,000 when someone is injured, $10,000 to $15,000 when the injury is serious, and $15,000 to $20,000 when the victim dies.
The city first voted to create its own civil fines for hit-and-runs last year, and is now making them more severe. The fines are in addition to any criminal penalties for leaving the scene, which is illegal under state law.
The NYPD revealed at a hearing on the legislation that there have been 38,000 hit and runs so far this year, including 4,000 where someone was injured. But most of the drivers aren’t getting caught — only 480 drivers faced criminal charges, and another 475 were given moving violations.
Another piece of legislation passed Wednesday will require cops to report on how many violations they give out for hit-and-runs resulting in critical injuries.
