November 20, 2009
Community Parent Center Director Wendy Tepfer Comments on Passage of "Leandra's Law"
Wendy Tepfer
Director, Community Parent Center
Wendy Tepfer, Director of the Community Parent Center, says the passage of "Leandra's Law" - considered to be the toughest law against drunk driving in the nation - will definitely save lives of children who are passengers in cars and protect them from the dangers of being in a car with a drunk driver.
"I applaud the efforts of the New York State Legislature for enacting Leandra's Law, one of the strongest DWI laws in the nation," Ms. Tepfer said. "This piece of legislation will certainly send a powerful message: driving drunk with a child in the car is a crime. Children are not able to protect themselves. Innocent children who are put in a car with an irresponsible adult drunk driver need and deserve our protection."
On November 18, the New York State Legislature passed the Child Passenger Protection Act, also known as "Leandra's Law." The law was named after Leandra Rosado, an 11-year-old girl from New York City who was killed in a car crash last month. She was a passenger in a car driven by her friend's mother, who allegedly drove drunk.
Under the law, it is now an automatic felony to drive intoxicated or under the influence of drugs with a child under the age of 16 years in a car. Drivers would have their license suspended pending prosecution. First-time offenders shall be charged with a Class E felony, punishable up to four years in state prison. The law further states that drivers who cause serious injury to a child could be sentenced up to 15 years in state prison, and up to 25 years in prison if the driver causes the death of a child.
In addition, under the law, courts must order all drivers convicted of a misdemeanor or felony DWI to install and maintain an ignition interlock on any vehicle that they own and/or operate for six months, in addition to any term of imprisonment. If the driver is the child's parent, guardian or custodian, the child will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment by the arresting officer.
"No child should ever be left vulnerable to the impaired judgment of an intoxicated driver," Ms. Tepfer said. "Thanks to the dedicated and committed efforts of Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Senator Martin Malavé Dilan, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and the members of the New York State Senate and Assembly, this legislation will help to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again."
