What's happening
This bill increases fines and jail time for repeat offenses of driving while ability impaired in New York.
Why it matters
Targets repeat offenders. By increasing penalties for those with prior convictions, the bill specifically aims to deter individuals who repeatedly drive while impaired, acknowledging the higher risk they pose to public safety.
Escalates legal consequences. The proposed amendments make repeat offenses misdemeanors with substantially higher minimum fines and longer potential jail terms, signaling a shift toward stricter enforcement and punishment.
Potential to reduce recidivism. Harsher penalties may discourage individuals from reoffending, potentially decreasing the number of impaired drivers on the road and improving overall traffic safety.
Reflects public concern. The bill’s changes suggest a legislative response to ongoing issues with impaired driving in New York, possibly driven by public demand for stronger measures to protect communities from repeat DUI/DWI incidents.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase DWI Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2629
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 24, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the penalties for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1193 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 75 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Driving while ability impaired. A violation of subdivision one of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this article shall be a traffic infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than fifteen days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. A person who operates a vehicle in violation of such subdivision after having been convicted of a violation of any subdivision of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this article within the preceding five years shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than [five] seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than [seven hundred fifty] one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment of not more than [thirty] ninety days in a penitentiary or county jail or by both such fine and imprisonment. A person who operates a vehicle in violation of such subdivision after having been convicted two or more times of a violation of any subdivision of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this article within the preceding ten years shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than [seven hundred fifty] one thousand dollars nor more than [fifteen hundred] two thousand dollars, or by imprisonment of not more than one hundred eighty days in a penitentiary or county jail or by both such fine and imprisonment.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00147-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.