HOLBROOK, NY — A new law went into effect Friday that reduces the number of felony driver’s license suspensions in New York.

Now, drivers caught with five previous license suspensions can be hit with a felony.

Dawn Nappi Riendeau’s Battle for Angelica’s Law

The law was supported by Dawn Nappi Riendeau, a Long Island mother whose daughter was murdered 16 years ago.

In 2008, Nappi Riendeau’s daughter, Angelica, was struck and killed by a known high-risk driver who ran a red light in Holbrook. His license has been suspended seven times. He only served a few months for a misdemeanor.

Angelica was 14 years old.

“I look at it as a shred of justice for my family because we have a life sentence,” Nappi Riendeau said Friday. “This is to help other people so they don’t have to go through something as horrible as we did.”

Nappi Riendeau fought Albany to reduce the number of suspensions to qualify for a felony from ten to five.

Over the years, Nappi Riendeau she was persistent in her fightconfronting parliamentarians and CBS News New York’s Carolyn Gusoff pressed for answers.

The years-long hold-up involved license suspensions related to tax or child support debts and unpaid tickets. The compromise is that only suspensions from moving violations will count for the five.

CBS News New York was at the private ceremony when Governor Kathy Hochul signed Angelica’s Law in December 2023.

Sponsors of the bill say there is more work to be done

“It’s a small victory, but there’s still a lot to do… A suspended license means you shouldn’t be on the road, period,” Nappi Riendeau said.

Bill sponsors on both sides of the aisle agree that while it’s a step in the right direction, there’s more to do.

“It could be stricter. Originally, what I wanted was three strikes, you’re out,” said Republican Sen. Dean Murray.

“As a society, we’d like to give people a second chance, but if you’re dangerous, you shouldn’t be on the road,” said Democratic Sen. Kevin Thomas.

Angelica would have turned 31 years ago. Her mother has turned the tragedy into something good, but says she’s baffled that it took so long.

The driver in Angelica Nappi’s accident could not be reached for comment.

Carolyn Gusoff

Carolyn Gusoff has covered some of the biggest news stories in the New York area and is best known as a reliable, tenacious, consistent and caring voice of Long Island concerns.