Tiffany Cabán’s Introduces “Amanda’s Law” To Curb Deadly High Speed Car Chases

October 30, 2025

New York City

At this week’s Stated Meeting, Council Member Tiffany Cabán introduced Int 1431-2025, known as “Amanda’s Law,” to prevent deadly and unnecessary high speed vehicle pursuits. 

The bill is named after Council Member Cabán’s constituent Amanda Servedio. In Astoria one year ago, Amanda was biking home when she was hit by a car and killed. The driver who hit her was being chased by the police  — he was a suspect in a non-violent offense. But after the high-speed vehicle pursuit, Amanda ended up dead. Too often, high-speed vehicle pursuits result in crashes, injury, and even death of people involved or in the surrounding area.

Around the country, 93% of people killed in high speed police chases were not drivers being pursued because they were suspected of violence. They were non-violent suspects, bystanders, passengers, or officers. In 2020 and 2021, almost two people a day were being killed by these high speed chases. 

Amanda’s Law would mandate that officers should not start a high-speed chase if they believe someone just committed a non-violent offense and does not pose an immediate danger to others. It would also require supervisor approval for high-speed chases, prohibit dangerous immobilization techniques, and require analysis and reporting of pursuits after they occur. 

Amanda’s Law would strengthen the policies of NYPD Commissioner Tisch which are improving this issue and enshrine them into law. The strengthening is necessary because tragedies are still occurring under the current policy. 

“Amanda Servedio should still be alive today,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “The tragedy of her death is not an outlier — and it is a problem that we can fix. Amanda’s Law is the solution: officers should never start a high-speed chase if they believe someone just committed a non violent offense and doesn’t pose an immediate danger to others. Safety experts, researchers, and police chiefs agree, and other cities in New York and around the country already follow this guidance. NYPD Commissioner Tisch implemented a new policy this year that is improving this issue, and it is the Council’s responsibility to strengthen it and enshrine it in law. If this law had been in effect a year ago, Amanda might still be alive today. To keep New Yorkers safe, and in Amanda’s honor, we must pass Amanda’s Law.” 

“Unnecessary police chases do not keep us safe. After the NYPD issued a new policy to restrict police chases this winter, pursuits fell by two-thirds in just two weeks — proof that smart policy saves lives,” said Elizabeth Adams, Deputy Director of Public Affairs at Transportation Alternatives. “But New Yorkers’ safety shouldn’t hinge on temporary policies. Council Member Cabán’s bill builds on that lifesaving progress by strengthening and expanding NYPD chase guidelines — moving us closer to a city where safety comes from thoughtful design, not dangerous police chases.” 

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