NY S02061

Creates a rebuttable presumption that drivers who violate reckless driving laws and cause physical injury, serious physical injury, or death acted with criminal negligence, making such violations a class A misdemeanor

Establishes a rebuttable presumption that drivers who cause injury or death while violating any traffic law (except parking offenses) were operating recklessly

Changes the reckless driving standard from "unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use" to "unreasonably interferes with the free and safe use" of roadways, and eliminates judicial requirements for finding "aggravating factors" or "gross deviation" from reasonable conduct

Adds a mandatory "Reckless Driving and Vehicular Violence" awareness component to the pre-licensing course for driver's licenses, covering pedestrian and bicyclist safety, distracted driving dangers, and consequences of vehicular crimes

Requires drivers convicted of reckless driving to complete a motor vehicle accident prevention course and repeals the existing "failure to exercise due care" penalty structure in section 1146, consolidating enforcement under the strengthened reckless driving statute