ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) signed legislation on Thursday which would make staging an intentional motor vehicle accident for the purposes of committing insurance fraud, a class E felony.
This legislation also indicates that if someone injures another driver who was not part of the fraudulent act a class D felony.
"In New York, we have zero tolerance for insurance fraud, and anyone who puts others in physical danger to further their scheme should be punished accordingly," Gov. Cuomo said.
The governor continued, "by signing this legislation into law, we are holding reckless individuals accountable by strengthening penalties for motor vehicle insurance fraud and taking a significant step to make our roads safer for every New Yorker."
The law was created with Alice Ross in mind, a mother and grandmother who died as a result of a getting hit by a driver who attempted to get money from a settlement resulting from the crash.
