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.
A person convicted of aggravated DWI would also be required to have an ignition interlock system installed on his vehicle while he is on probation.
The device requires a driver to blow into an alcohol sensor attached to a vehicle's dashboard. The car cannot be started if a certain alcohol level is detected.
“Enough is enough,” said Republican Sen. Charles Fuschillo, who sponsored the bill. “Every single day we see or hear about another preventable tragedy. It's time to move forward with harsher penalties.”
The measure would allow prosecutors to seek longer prison terms for those charged with vehicular manslaughter under certain circumstances.
Those convicted in such cases could face up to 15 years in prison instead of the current maximum sentence of seven years.
The bill would also extend the amount of time a repeat DWI offender's license could be revoked.
It also permanently revokes the license of anyone who is either convicted of DWI or refuses to take a breathalyzer test three times within four years, or four times within eight years.
Drivers who agree to plead to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired instead of DWI would be required to complete an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program under the bill.
“It is a significant step forward,” Pataki said. But “it's weaker than it should be.”
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.
A person convicted of aggravated DWI would also be required to have an ignition interlock system installed on his vehicle while he is on probation.
The device requires a driver to blow into an alcohol sensor attached to a vehicle's dashboard. The car cannot be started if a certain alcohol level is detected.
“Enough is enough,” said Republican Sen. Charles Fuschillo, who sponsored the bill. “Every single day we see or hear about another preventable tragedy. It's time to move forward with harsher penalties.”
The measure would allow prosecutors to seek longer prison terms for those charged with vehicular manslaughter under certain circumstances.
Those convicted in such cases could face up to 15 years in prison instead of the current maximum sentence of seven years.
The bill would also extend the amount of time a repeat DWI offender's license could be revoked.
It also permanently revokes the license of anyone who is either convicted of DWI or refuses to take a breathalyzer test three times within four years, or four times within eight years.
Drivers who agree to plead to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired instead of DWI would be required to complete an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program under the bill.
“It is a significant step forward,” Pataki said. But “it's weaker than it should be.”
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