Senate Passes Bill To Require Testing For Alcohol If A Motor Vehicle Collision Results In Death Or Injury

Media Contacts:                                                                                                                                           

Christine Geed, Communications Specialist

geed@nysenate.gov or (631) 398-8044

Jennifer Romero, Press Secretary

jromero@nysenate.gov or (631) 513-5657

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, May 27, 2016

For Immediate Release    

Albany, NY – Senator Thomas Croci (R, C, I – Sayville) announces the New York State Senate this week passed legislation to further hold drivers accountable for causing an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The bill (S6745), sponsored by Senator Michael Venditto (R-C-I, Massapequa), would require a Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test to be administered if it’s reasonably believed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol when involved in a collision that results in death or serious injury.

Current law gives people an option to refuse BAC testing, allowing intoxicated drivers who are involved in motor vehicle crashes to escape prosecution. This legislation would disallow this option. If a driver does refuse BAC testing, or is unable to give consent for the BAC testing, the bill allows a chemical test to be given if a police officer or district attorney obtains a court order finding reasonable cause that the operator of the vehicle did cause serious injury or death to someone else.

“This bill provides our law enforcement an important tool to combat intoxicated driving in our state and our goal in approving this legislation unanimously is to send a clear message that will deter intoxicated driving and eliminate the chance that someone could lose their life under these circumstances,” stated Senator Croci.

In August of 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Final Report on State Laws and Practices for BAC Testing and Reporting Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes found that New York reported testing only six percent of surviving drivers who were involved in fatal crashes for their BAC. Only four states in the nation reported testing a smaller percentage of surviving drivers involved in fatal crashes.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.

All media inquiries should be directed to Senator Croci’s Communications Specialist, Christine Geed at (631) 398-8044 (call or text) or via email at geed@nysenate.gov.  Inquiries for additional information should be directed to Senator Croci’s Press Secretary, Jennifer Romero at (631) 513-5657 or via email at jromero@nysenate.gov

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