State Senate Cracks Down On Auto Insurance Fraud

Albany, NY (WIBX) - It is becoming more and more difficult to commit auto insurance fraud in New York.

Today the State Senate passed three bills that together would make staging auto accidents a felony, make it illegal to use accomplices known as "runners" to collect insurance money, and would permit insurers to retroactively cancel policies taken out by people who commit auto insurance fraud.

The legislation comes after federal authorities put an end to what was believed to be the longest-running auto insurance scam in history, costing companies almost $280million.

All three bills are on their way to the Assembly.