Drunk Driving

With the flick of a pen on Wednesday, Gov. David A. Paterson signed the Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra’s law in memory of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a drunken driving accident in October.

Leandra’s Law will set some of the toughest DWI penalties in the nation and will provide law enforcement officials with the tools they need to prosecute DWI offenders.

Under the law, first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more or under the influence of drugs, and with a child age 15 or under in the vehicle, will automatically have their drivers license suspended, will have to install a ignition interlock device in their car and may be charged with a Class E felony punishable up to four years in prison.

Intoxicated drivers who cause serious injury to a child may be charged with a Class C felony punishable up to 15 years in prison, and drunken drivers who cause the death of a child will be charged with a Class B felony that could bring up to 25 years in prison.

In addition to the increased sanctions, parents caught driving impaired with their children will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

Critics of the bill complain that although the law will send a stern message to drunk drivers across the state, it may end up displacing the children of parents who are caught.

One thing is sure, people that think its okay to drink and drive with children in the car will pay the price.