New York state is set to crack down on people who wear masks to conceal their identities while committing crimes, under a proposal included in the $254 billion state budget bill that lawmakers are expected to take up in the coming days, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said on April 28.
The proposal will create a new Class B misdemeanor for individuals who “use a mask to conceal their identity when committing a Class A misdemeanor or higher crime or fleeing the scene immediately after committing such a crime,” Hochul’s office said in a statement.
In a separate statement announcing the deal with legislative leaders, Hochul said the mask proposal is part of wider efforts to drive down crime in the state and ensure dangerous criminals are held accountable….