Saturday, August 15, 2009

Paterson wants law against driving drunk w/kids

From NY1:

Governor David Paterson introduced legislation today increasing the penalties for drunk drivers who have children in their car, in the wake of a crash on the Taconic State Parkway.

Under the proposed legislation, first-time offenders would be required to install devices to prevent their cars from starting.

Repeat offenders would be subject to prison time, and intoxicated drivers who kill a child under 17 would face up to 25 years in prison.


This is one of the few things Paterson has done that is actually praiseworthy.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

People will start throwing their kids out the window likes its cocaine to get away from the 25 years!

FlooshingRezident said...

All cars should be equipped with breathalyzers - drunk driving would pretty much disappear. The technology exists to stop people from doing foolish things.

Anonymous said...

In this society, anything goes. There will always be a reason why the driver was drunk or high, i.e. Bad childhood, broken marriage. Trial lawyers will always get these idiots off so they can do it again. Start enforcing the laws already on the books. If someone gets caught high in a car, confiscate their car. If their kids are in the car, take the kids away from them and their drivers license too. Sooner or later they will get it.

Anonymous said...

The cows have escaped! Quick, close the barn doors!

Anonymous said...

What a stupid law. Do we really need this photo op law??? Isn't there enough laws against drunk driving on the books already to send this woman to jail for life if she survived? Wake up people!

Queens Crapper said...

No because a bunch of people have recently been caught drinking and driving with kids in the car. The law is not intended to punish the woman who died. And drunk drivers typically do not do decades of time for vehicular manslaughter.

Speeder said...

as long as the law stipulates that if you hit a kid or cause an accident that involves kids the same punishment applies.

CJ said...

I'm sure that the proposed law will protect us as well as the current drunk driving laws don't.

Anonymous said...

CJ's spot on here.
This is another example of a bloated and redundant legislative structure that can only serve to impede justice.

Anonymous said...

Too many similar pieces of legislation, too confusing!