Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about New York State DMV

Justice for Mathieu Lefevre

By Steve Vaccaro | Jan 20, 2015 | 7 Comments

Change is afoot at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Following a meeting with advocates for crash victims, the DMV scheduled safety hearings to determine whether three drivers who caused fatal crashes would lose their licenses. The first of the three — concerning the death of three year-old Allison Liao — saw several welcome improvements […]

Victims’ Families Demand Changes From DMV at Vigil for Allison Liao

By Stephen Miller | Jan 7, 2015 | 6 Comments

Undeterred by the cold, nearly 100 people gathered at the corner of Main Street and Cherry Avenue in Flushing last night to remember 3-year-old Allison Liao, killed by a driver in October 2013. State DMV administrative judges had already dismissed the two tickets issued to the driver, 44-year-old Ahmad Abu-Zayedeh, before putting off a judgment at a special […]

DMV Judge Delays Action Against License of Driver Who Killed Allison Liao

By Brad Aaron | Jan 6, 2015 | 23 Comments

An administrative law judge for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles today deferred a decision concerning the driver’s license of the motorist who killed 3-year-old Allison Liao. In a packed hearing room at a DMV office in Jamaica, Sidney Fuchs watched video that showed an SUV driven by Ahmad Abu-Zayedeh run over Allison as […]

With Opening at DMV, Cuomo Has Opportunity to Lead on Street Safety

By Stephen Miller | Jan 2, 2015 | 9 Comments

With the retirement of Barbara Fiala, the top position at the Department of Motor Vehicles is vacant, giving Governor Andrew Cuomo an opportunity to appoint someone who will use the state’s oversight of driver education, training, and licensing to improve street safety and prevent traffic deaths. Fiala, 70, is a Democrat who served as Broome County […]

Justice for Allie Liao

By Steve Vaccaro | Dec 19, 2014 | 3 Comments

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles faces a critical test on January 6 at 9 a.m.: Can the agency provide meaningful oversight and consequences for reckless drivers? That morning, Ahmad Abu-Zayedeh, the driver who struck and killed 3-year-old Allie Liao and traumatized her grandmother, is scheduled to appear for a DMV safety hearing. [Disclosure: […]

DMV Primer: Why Safety Hearings Should Be Held For Non-Fatal Crashes Too

By Steve Vaccaro | Dec 9, 2014 | 1 Comment

This is part of a series of posts on the workings of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, its role in deterring or facilitating traffic violence, and agency reforms that could make streets and roads safer. Last week I wrote about a key shortcoming in the Department of Motor Vehicles safety hearing program: […]

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