Ignition interlock law takes effect Aug. 15

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. joined this past week with Gov. David Paterson, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, law enforcement officials, and the families of Leandra Rosado and Katie Flynn to remind residents that New York's new ignition interlock law will take effect on Aug. 15.

Rosado and Flynn, both children, were killed by drunken drivers.

"I fought for this new law to ensure that an ignition interlock will take the weapon out of a drunk driver's hands," Fuschillo said. "Ignition interlocks have been proven effective at stopping convicted drunk drivers from committing repeat DWI crimes. With drunk drivers killing hundreds of people on New York's roads every year, this is an important and critical step to end the drunk-driving epidemic in New York state."

Under the new law, which Fuschillo sponsored in the Senate and Weisenberg in the Assembly, all convicted drunken drivers must install and use ignition interlocks in their vehicles. Ignition interlocks are breath test devices linked to a vehicles' ignition systems that prevent cars from starting if alcohol is detected in a driver's breath. Costs for installing the interlock will be borne by the offender.

Drivers will be required to blow periodically into the interlocks

after their cars start to ensure that they are complying with the law. Anyone attempting to circumvent the interlock would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and face up to one year in jail.

Paterson said, "This week, New York state will take a huge leap forward in continuing our efforts to make our roadways safer. With this important provision, New York state now has some of the toughest DWI laws in the nation, with a strong focus on prevention. Requiring ignition interlocks for drunk drivers will prevent more senseless deaths and spare other families the endless grief suffered by those who knew and loved Leandra Rosado and Katie Flynn," said Paterson.

Ignition interlocks have proven effective in reducing repeat

drunken-driving offenses. New Mexico saw DWI crashes drop by 31 percent, DWI-related injuries by 39 percent and DWI-related fatalities by 35 percent after enacting a similar mandatory ignition interlock law.