Long Island Woman With 33 License Suspensions First Charged Under Angelica's Law: Police

LONG ISLAND, NY — A Long Island woman was the first person charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation under Angelica's Law after she was caught driving with more than 30 license suspensions on Monday, Suffolk police said.

Lisa Larkin was driving a 2003 Acura westbound on the Long Island Expressway, just west of exit 67 in Yaphank, when officers initiated a traffic stop for following a vehicle too closely, police said, adding that an investigation revealed Larkin has 33 license suspensions on five separate occasions for failure to answer summonses.

Her vehicle was impounded and she was issued summonses for an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, police said.

The legislation is named for Angelica Nappi, a 14-year-old Holbrook resident who was killed in a 2008 crash involving an unlicensed driver with seven previous suspensions ran a red light, officials said.

It aims to keep high-risk drivers off the road by lowering the number of prior license suspensions that can result in felony charges for driving without a valid license, according to officials.
At the time of Nappi's death, the motorist only faced a misdemeanor, officials said.

Angelica’s Law decreases from 10 to five the number of prior license suspensions needed to qualify for first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a felony.

The law took effect Friday.

Larkin, 58, of Sound Beach was released on a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.