New York law is very tough on drunk drivers, but things are about to get even tougher. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill today that makes the consequences of a drunk driving conviction more serious than they have been. The bill enhances Leandra’s Law of 2009, requiring absolutely everyone who is convicted of a DWI …
In this day and age, many crime scene investigations involve forensic science. While much of the public here in New York tends to think that forensic evidence is foolproof, this actually is not the case. A number of forensic techniques are not a perfect science, in part, due to human error. This is why we …
Many people in New York know that a DWI conviction comes with some serious penalties. New York authorities are very tough on drunk driving, and as a result a conviction for a DWI can result in a suspended driver’s license, house arrest, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and even jail time, among other sentencing options. One …
Many New York residents have likely heard that the National Transportation Safety Board issued a pretty controversial recommendation regarding drunk driving laws last week. The federal agency wants all 50 states to lower the legal blood-alcohol content limit to .05 percent–meaning that a man of average weight could possibly be arrested for a DWI after …
Drinking underage has become a sort of rite of passage for many young people in New York. Sometimes, this is harmless fun and other times this results in major and long-lasting consequences. In order to make it a bit more difficult for minors to get their hands on alcohol, as well as fight fraud, New …
DNA evidence cuts both ways. It can exonerate an innocent person. But it can also link someone to a crime. Because of the latter possibility, law enforcement authorities in New York and across the country are eagerly building DNA databases. They seek to add as many DNA profiles as they can, in the hopes of …
Breathalyzer devices are not infallible. Neither are Intoxilyzers nor any other portable machine used to administer roadside breath tests to drivers whom police suspect of drunk driving. Such machines have been known to suffer from various calibration and human errors – leading to erroneous results. Because the machines are fallible, it is fair game to …
Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have now adopted laws to allow medical marijuana. One of the most recent states to do so was one of New York’s neighbors, Connecticut. Will New York follow suit anytime soon? Regardless of the answer, authorities’ approach to low-level drug possession cases is certainly in need of review. …
The consequences you can face for driving drunk on a motorcycle are no different from those you would face had you been driving in another automobile. And just like with driving a car while intoxicated, if your drunk driving can be linked to someone’s death, you can be charged with felony DWI and spend significant …
According to state data, only one third of defendants required to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) on their vehicles actually install them. In total, 23,000 drivers have refused to install IIDs since the law was passed two years ago. New York’s ignition interlock law requires any individual convicted of driving while intoxicated to install an …