Senator Fuschillo To Conduct Public Forum On Dwi Legislation

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) announced that he will be conducting a public forum regarding legislation he introduced to enhance existing DWI laws in New York State. The forum will be held on Friday, April 8, 2005 at 11:30 A.M. in the Massapequa Park Village Hall, located at 151 Front Street in Massapequa Park.

The forum’s purpose is to seek testimony regarding New York State’s current DWI laws and to discuss options for strengthening these laws. The Senate is considering legislation, sponsored by Senator Fuschillo, that would require mandatory imprisonment for those convicted of driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or higher. These new penalties would be in addition to any penalties that can currently be imposed.

In recent years, New York State has adopted many laws to combat drunk driving. From lowering the BAC from .10 to .08 for a DWI to creating new penalties for repeat offenders, these laws have helped deter people from driving drunk. However, drunk drivers continue to pose a legitimate threat to others on the roadways of our state.

"Every year, we lose 500 New Yorkers to this preventable tragedy. We must continue working to make sure that our roadways are as safe as possible," said Senator Fuschillo. "By utilizing this forum, we can formulate the most effective plan to protect the citizens of our state."

The forum is open to the public and will elicit written and oral testimony from both the public and from experts in the field of drunk driving prevention. Oral testimony is by invitation only. If you would like to submit written testimony, or if you would like more information, please call Senator Fuschillo’s office at 516-546-4100.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUM
NEW YORK STATE SENATOR CHARLES J. FUSCHILLO, JR.
PUBLIC FORUM ON DWI LEGISLATION

Friday, April 8, 2005 at 11:30 A.M.
Massapequa Park Village Hall
151 Front Street, Massapequa Park

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SUBJECT: In recent years, New York State has adopted many laws to combat drunk driving. From lowering the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) from .10 to .08 to enhancing the repeat offender laws, New York State has enacted laws that have helped deter people from driving drunk. However, drunk driving still remains a threat to all New York residents. The New York State Senate is currently considering legislation (S2276) which would require automatic prison sentences for those convicted of DWI with an elevated BAC, in addition to any other penalties that could be imposed.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this forum is to determine whether enacting such a law would provide an adequate deterrent to drunk driving. The forum seeks to gather information from experts and the public with regard to the effectiveness and necessity of these proposed changes to New York State law. It is the intention of the forum to gather information from interested advocacy groups, elected officials and members of the law enforcement community. The forum is requesting both oral and written comments from all interested parties.

COMMENTS: Oral comments will be received by invitation only and will be limited to ten minutes per speaker. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the forum registration desk. Written comments are welcome from all interested parties and may be submitted along with this form at the hearing, or mailed to Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., 30 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520 by April 7, 2005. Comments can also be faxed to (516) 546-4334. For further information, please contact Robert Caroppoli in Senator Fuschillo’s office at (516) 546-4100.
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