New York Moving To Impose Tougher DUI / Drunk Driving Laws

The New York State Assembly passed a bill yesterday that would make it a felony DWI to drive while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.

The bill would also require first time convicted offenders to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicles. This bill is quickly moving through the New York legislature as it could be passed by the New York Senate and sent to the governor for signature this week.

Many sources are saying that if this bill goes into law, New York will have the toughtest DUI / Drunk Driving laws in the nation. To date, ignition interlock devices are now used in some form in 47 states.

According to the New York Times, in 2008, 37,695 people were convicted of drunk driving in New York.