Ron Bellanti - Stop Drunk Driving Now Blog

Monday, August 5, 2013

Gov. Cuomo Toughens Leandra's Law

Governor Cuomo of NY signed into law a new bill to keep more drunk drivers off of New York roads. This new legislation toughens Leandra's Law, a bill that was passed in 2009 which targeted those who drive drunk with children in the vehicles. The new provisos of Leandra's Law affect persons who drive drunk on a conditional license.

These new provisions will make it a felony for anyone to drive drunk on a conditional license. Before this bill was signed into law, it has only been a traffic infraction to be caught drinking drunk with a conditional license.

More About Leandra's Law:
Leandra's Law is named after 11 year old Leandra Rosado who was killed in October 2009 when the adult driving her  and her friends crashed the car on the Henry Hudson Parkway in NYC. The driver was arrested for DWI. This followed the horrific "Taconic Crash" in which 8 people were killed, 4 of them children. Mr. Rosado, Leandra's father, quickly teamed with MADD, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Assemblman Harvey Weisenberg and the Governor of NY to pass this legislation on child endangerment and ignition interlocks. The resulting "Leandra's Law" elevates the crime of drunk driving with a child in the car to a Class E felony punishable up to 4 years in prison; if the child is injured, 7 years; and if killed, 15 years. It also mandates ignition interlocks for the cars of all convicted DWI offenders for a minimum of 6 months.

To read the full article, click here.

To learn more about Leandra's Law, click here.

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