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Who cares
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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires that any person convicted of an alcohol related offense be required to participate in the ignition interlock device program
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring all individuals convicted of an alcohol related offense to participate in the ignition interlock device program
Purpose
Amends the current law on ignition interlock device program from applying to only seven counties to requiring that all persons convicted of an alcohol related offense be required to participate in the ignition interlock device program.
Summary of provision
Subdivisions 1 and 2 and paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 1198 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and subdivision 2 and paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 and paragraph (a) of subdivision 2, and paragraph (c) of subdivision i-a of section 1193 are amended by removing the seven individual counties and language allowing other counties the option to implement the program and substituting language that the Ignition Interlock Device program shall apply to all persons convicted of a violation of this section or section eleven hundred ninety-eight-a of this article and that the court "shall" require the program as a condition of such "sentence or" probation "regardless of when such person's probation was ordered."
Existing law
Under existing law, the Ignition Interlock device program applies only to persons sentenced by a court located in the counties of Albany, Erie, Nassau, Onondaga, Monroe, Westchester or Suffolk. Existing law also allows the remaining counties to implement the program is so desired. The existing law states that in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, the court "may" require that a person install and maintain as a condition of probation, a functioning ignition interlock device. If the person convicted does not comply with the order to provide proof of installation of the device, the court, in existing law, may revoke, modify or terminate the person's sentence of probation.
Justification
The main reason why people continue to drive drunk today, despite 26 years of intense public education and law enforcement's best efforts, is because they can. Research shows that one of the most effective ways of stopping convicted drunk drivers from continuing to drive drunk is through currently available interlock devices.
Only one out of eight convicted drunk drivers each year currently get the device. There are approximately 100,000 interlocks currently in service in the us. Interlocks have been shown to be effective in Maryland, California and elsewhere with results ranging from 50 to 90 percent reductions in subsequent offenses by those offenders who were assigned interlock devices, compared with those who were not.
Current law does not require the sentencing of all offenders to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program; By amending the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require the installation of the Ignition Interlock Device for all individuals convicted of an alcohol related offense, subsequent offenses by those offenders will be reduced. Most importantly, lives will be saved by ensuring that those convicted will not be able to drive while under the influence.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Ninety days after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.