Lawmakers agree on new drunken driving bill

ALBANY - New Yorkers will face harsher penalties for driving with extremely high blood alcohol levels, killing someone in a drunk driving crash or repeatedly getting behind the wheel while intoxicated under measures agreed to by lawmakers Monday.

Gov. George Pataki said he will sign the law even though he feels it doesn't go far enough.

A bill crafted by the Republican-led Senate and the Democrat-led Assembly would create the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated for drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.18 or higher. The crime would be punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Motorists convicted of DWI under current law face the same possible jail time, but the fine is limited to $1,000. New York's DWI threshold is 0.08.