Meng Sends Letter to DMV Comissioner Protesting Dismissal of Tickets Against Driver Who Killed 3-Year-Old in Flushing, Queens
November 20, 2014
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) today sent a letter to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to find out why the agency dismissed tickets against the driver who struck and killed 3-year-old Allison Liao in Flushing, Queens last year. On November 7th, Meng issued a statement saying she found the decision to void the tickets very troubling, and that the driver must be held accountable.
"After painstakingly watching the video of this tragedy, I am writing to protest the unacceptable and irresponsible decision by a Department of Motor Vehicles Administrative Law Judge to dismiss the traffic tickets against Ahmad Abu-Zayedeha," Meng wrote in her correspondence to Commissioner Barbara Fiala. "What were the adjudication procedures that led to the decision to dismiss the tickets? Does your office have the right to overrule this decision? Are there procedures that can be taken at the January 6th meeting to punish the driver? Will the DMV place the driver's license on suspension?"
The full text of the letter is below and a copy of the correspondence is attached.
Liao was mowed down in October 2013 as she crossed Main Street at Cherry Avenue with her grandmother. The two summonses voided by the DMV were for failure to exercise due care and failure to yield to a pedestrian. The tickets were $150 each.
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Commissioner Barbara Fiala
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228
Dear Commissioner Fiala,
On the afternoon of October 6th 2013, Ahmad Abu-Zayedeha was driving his car when he ran over and killed pedestrian Allison Liao, who was only three years old. Allison was walking hand in hand across the street with her grandmother in Flushing, Queens, when the driver carelessly failed to stop for the crossing family. After painstakingly watching the video of this tragedy, I am writing to protest the unacceptable and irresponsible decision by a Department of Motor Vehicles Administrative Law Judge to dismiss the traffic tickets against Ahmad Abu-Zayedeha.
As the mother of young children, I cannot imagine what Allison's parents, Amy and Hsi-Pei Liao are going through. This accident was a horrible tragedy and the driver must be held accountable.
I would appreciate your response on some key questions in relation to the matter: What were the adjudication procedures that led to the decision to dismiss the tickets? Does your office have the right to overrule this decision? Are there procedures that can be taken at the January 6th meeting to punish the driver? Will the DMV place the driver's license on suspension?
Thank you for your attention to this tragic matter. I will be working closely with the grieving Liao family in fighting for the justice they so deserve for their deceased daughter.
On the afternoon of October 6th 2013, Ahmad Abu-Zayedeha was driving his car when he ran over and killed pedestrian Allison Liao, who was only three years old. Allison was walking hand in hand across the street with her grandmother in Flushing, Queens, when the driver carelessly failed to stop for the crossing family. After painstakingly watching the video of this tragedy, I am writing to protest the unacceptable and irresponsible decision by a Department of Motor Vehicles Administrative Law Judge to dismiss the traffic tickets against Ahmad Abu-Zayedeha.
As the mother of young children, I cannot imagine what Allison's parents, Amy and Hsi-Pei Liao are going through. This accident was a horrible tragedy and the driver must be held accountable.
I would appreciate your response on some key questions in relation to the matter: What were the adjudication procedures that led to the decision to dismiss the tickets? Does your office have the right to overrule this decision? Are there procedures that can be taken at the January 6th meeting to punish the driver? Will the DMV place the driver's license on suspension?
Thank you for your attention to this tragic matter. I will be working closely with the grieving Liao family in fighting for the justice they so deserve for their deceased daughter.
Sincerely,
Grace Meng
Member of Congress