Dangerous drivers can cause accidents that injure and kill people close to us. The Assembly’s legislation will help prevent accidents by increasing penalties for unsafe driving. The package would also implement measures to help motorists reach their destinations safely.

Making drunk drivers pay

Those who drive under the influence of alcohol would face stiffer penalties under the Assembly’s legislation (A.773-C). Drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.20 percent or higher would be charged with the new crime of “aggravated DWI.” Those convicted would face twice the fines and loss of license periods as those levied against first-time DWI offenders. Commercial drivers charged with aggravated DWI would face a more serious charge than regular motorists. School bus drivers would face up to seven years in prison instead of the current penalty of up to four years.

The Assembly’s plan also cracks down on DWI offenders by:

·        providing mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment for appropriate offenders;

·        increasing the penalty for vehicular manslaughter from up to seven years in prison to a maximum of 15 years for defendants where two or more people were killed or where there were previous DWI-related convictions;

·        doubling the loss of license period for those who refuse a chemical test from 6 months to a year on a first offense, and from 12 months to 18 months for a subsequent offense; and

·        revoking the licenses of serious repeat DWI offenders.

Too many of our loved ones have had their lives impacted by drunk drivers. The Assembly’s legislation sends a clear message that New York does not tolerate drinking and driving. It’s a serious crime with very serious consequences.

Cracking down on dangerous drivers

As part of the package of legislation, the Assembly passed two bills I sponsored to punish unsafe motorists by:

·        charging drivers with multiple convictions for serious traffic offenses who cause a fatal accident with the new crime of “vehicular homicide,” which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison (A.11352); and

·        directing district attorneys to use special unit state police to provide accident reconstruction assistance, and requiring DAs to designate at least one assistant DA as a vehicular crimes prosecutor (A.11453).

These measures give law enforcement officials enhanced power to protect us from unsafe drivers. Hopefully, this legislation will also send the message to aggressive motorists that New York State isn’t the place to drive recklessly.

Keeping New York’s roads safe

To improve driver safety, I sponsored legislation to:

·        apply the same stringent laws now applicable to school bus drivers to the drivers of pre-school and nursery school children as well (A.11393);

·        require trucks and tractor trailers weighing over 18,000 pounds to be equipped with convex mirrors – which improve the driver’s sight range – on the front of the vehicle (A.9971-A);

Punishing dangerous drivers and adopting common-sense measures will improve road safety. I urge the Senate and the governor to follow the Assembly’s lead and pass this legislation.