Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: Stop Stalling

New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) is insisting that Senate Bill S27B, which he has co-sponsored, no longer remain stalled in the Assembly. S27B  requires the installation of ignition interlock devices for all persons convicted of driving while intoxicated. 

“Leandra Rosado’s father’s grief has touched all of our lives. We must find ways to prevent future tragedies, and this bill should wait no longer to become law,”   stated Senator Rev. Diaz. “I am calling upon Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and my colleagues in the State Assembly to pass A7196A (the Assembly version of S27B) when they return to Albany for Special Session in November and for Governor Paterson to sign this bill into law.”

Statistics show that the frequency of high blood alcohol content (BAC) of arrested drivers has increased in recent years, as well as an increase in recidivism among those who have been convicted of drunk driving. 

Mandating the ignition interlock devices for all drunken driving offenders has reduced drunk driving in 11 other states and lowered drunk driving fatalities in some states by 35%.  New Jersey requires ignition interlock devices after DWI convictions and charges offenders $80 monthly to maintain the device.

If enacted in New York, the ignition interlock law would provide judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, parole-and correction officials with an alternative tool to deter and monitor a potentially dangerous population by providing for mandatory ignition interlock and probation for everyone convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.