Many Convicted New York Drunk Drivers Not Using Ignition Interlock Systems

Oct. 15, 2012

New York is known for having some of the toughest drinking and driving laws in the nation since “Leandra’s Law” was enacted two years ago. The Buffalo News recently reported, however, that many punished under the law have found ways to beat the system and continue driving freely.

One of the many stipulations of Leandra’s Law, enacted after several notable New York drunken driving accidents, states any motorist convicted of driving while intoxicated must have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle before gaining the privilege to drive again.

However, New York officials have found is that only three out of ten drivers ordered to install the devices actually do so. In fact, roughly 23,000 convicted drunk drivers across the New York, with as many as 1,500 around Erie County, who have failed to meet the court-ordered requirement.

One common way this happens is when a convicted drunk driver transfers the ownership of the vehicle into someone else’s name, which allows them to bypass having the device installed and maintained.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has pushed for the Department of Motor Vehicles to tighten laws against drunk driving by reviewing a person’s lifetime driving history when applying for license reinstatement and calling for permanent revocation for repeat offenders.

The Buffalo Car Accident Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices are hopeful the new laws will be successful in reducing the number of Buffalo car accidents.