Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - One week after three teens stole a car and nearly caused a fatal crash. The teens stole the vehicle and drove it at high rates of speed before crashing the car and sending one man to the hospital. The teens were caught by Cheektowaga police before being released to their parents. Assemblyman Pat Chludzinski has had enough and wants change.
"Now this is a direct result of a broken system that was created by out of touch Albany politicians passed in 2019 New York State's raise the age law, as it currently stands, is failing our communities." Chludzinski said. "It was meant to help turn young lives around, but instead has created a revolving door for juvenile offenders who steal cars, endanger lives and face little to no consequences. The growing trend of youthful violent offenses is widespread and alarming, and the desire to take action to address this issue is bipartisan as it should be."
The assemblyman is looking to overturn the Raise the Age law that would make 16-and-17-year-olds who commit serious felonies from escaping criminal liability. They would now be transferred to family court. The Assembly Bill A4705 would increase penalties for repeated acts of grand larceny which would keep the offenders from escaping accountability.
"The reckless disregard youthful offenders are showing towards their neighbors and fellow residents is appalling, and it will not be reversed by minimizing the consequences of their actions," said Chludzinski. "Swift and certain punishment is a deterrent and holding violent offenders appropriately accountable ensures the safety of others. This is why passage of these two bills is so necessary," the Assemblyman added.
Chludzinski feels that this is not a problem in just New York State, but also across the state and Albany needs to do something to change.
"The first bill will reverse the disastrous effects of the Raise the Age law by amending the criminal procedure law and the family court act to prevent 16 and 17 year old adolescent offenders who commit very serious felonies from escaping criminal liability by being transferred back to family court." Chudzinski said. "The second bill addresses a dramatic rise in the auto thefts, in auto thefts were the penalties for repeated acts of grand larceny of a motor vehicle by making these offenses eligible for bail or remand, by preventing 16 and 17 year old adolescent offenders from escaping accountability by being transferred to family court."