Bill Strengthening ‘Leandra’s Law’ Will Save Lives, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Says

June 20, 2013

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Chair of the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Committee, is praising the Assembly’s passage of legislation that strengthens Leandra’s Law by increasing the number of convicted drunk drivers compelled to use an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. The device prevents a car from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.

“Drunk driving is a reckless act that has shattered too many lives. While it is fortunate in New York State that we have Leandra’s Law to keep many of these drivers off the road, a loophole in the law was allowing many convicted drivers to avoid installing the ignition interlock in their cars,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said. “The passage of this bill closes this loophole and adds new ‘teeth’ to the original law. Lives will be saved because of this legislation.”

The bill (A.2285-A) requires that a person found driving a vehicle with a conditional license while drunk or impaired would be charged with first degree aggravated unlicensed operation (AUO) of a motor vehicle, a class E felony. The legislation also clarifies that young offenders would be subject to ignition interlock requirements. All offenders would be subject to ignition interlock requirements for a minimum period of 12 months with a reduction to six months after the offender has submitted proof that the he or she installed and maintained the ignition interlock device for at least six months.

Enacted in 2009, Leandra’s Law makes it an automatic felony on the first offense to drive drunk with a person 15 years old or younger inside the vehicle. Additionally, anyone convicted of driving under the influence is barred from driving a vehicle unless it is equipped with an ignition interlock. This restriction is recorded on the driver’s DMV record, and it is deemed a criminal offense to drive without the interlock.

The number of alcohol-related crashes in New York State dropped 18 percent from 2005-2011. The decrease is credited to Leandra’s Law and other initiatives such as mandatory alcohol assessments and aggravated DWI.

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