Submitted by Admin
Getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol is one of the most dangerous things someone can do. As vehicles become faster and more powerful, road safety is becoming a top priority for numerous countries worldwide, including the U.S. and the state of New York.
Aaron Black, one of the best Phoenix DUI Lawyers, claims that “stricter traffic laws across the U.S. have certainly made a big impact on the fewer number of traffic accidents and deaths.”
While we know that the more intoxicated a driver is, the more likely he or she will break traffic laws, the main question still stands — are stricter traffic laws in NY truly making a difference and keeping intoxicated drivers off the road?
DUI penalties in NY
According to the NY Department of Motor Vehicles, an offender loses his or her driving rights on the spot after taking a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test and scoring a 0.08% or higher.
The same happens if a blood alcohol test is unavailable or the driver refuses to take one. But, these are not the only penalties related to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Namely, there are three different levels of DUI in NY, including DUI, extreme DUI, and aggravated DUI.
DUI
Drivers with 0.08% to 0.14% alcohol concentration.
- First offense: Jail time of 10 days and a fine of around $1,000. Drivers are also obliged to undergo alcohol screening or treatment, perform community service, and use a certified ignition interlock device.
- Second and subsequent offenses: Jail time of 90 days and a fine of around $2,000. Their driving license is revoked for 12 months. Drivers are also obliged to undergo alcohol screening or treatment, perform community service, and use a certified ignition interlock device.
Extreme DUI
Drivers with 0.15% alcohol concentration or higher.
- First offense: Jail time of 30 days and a fine of around $1,500. Drivers are also obliged to undergo alcohol screening or treatment, perform community service, and use a certified ignition interlock device.
- Second and subsequent offenses: Jail time of 120 days and a fine of around $2,500. Their driving license is revoked for 12 months. Drivers are also obliged to undergo alcohol screening or treatment, perform community service, and use a certified ignition interlock device.
Aggravated DUI
An aggravated DUI is when a driver commits a DUI offense while:
- Suspended from the road
- Driving with a revoked license
- Having a total of 3 DUIs within the last 84 months
- Driving with a person under 15 in the vehicle.
The penalties for an aggravated DUI include a minimum prison sentence of 2 years and having their driving license revoked for 12 months. Drivers are also obliged to undergo alcohol screening or treatment, perform community service, and use a certified ignition interlock device.
The role of strict traffic laws
If we take a look at these penalties, it is safe to say that NY has strict DUI policies and laws. However, the fatality rate in the state is near the national average, which questions the role and effectiveness of strict traffic laws across NY.
While the severity of the punishment certainly plays an important role in how people approach driving activities, other factors also influence the decisions of NY drivers.
For instance, more effective and responsive law enforcement leads to more DUI arrests, which can act as a deterrent to prevent drinking and driving.
Additionally, the time between the crime committed and the punishment also motivates intoxicated drivers to stay off the road. Slow prosecutions and long trials that drag on for months are not doing much to decrease the number of drunken drivers on the road, even if the penalties and fines are high.
So, having only harsh traffic laws is not enough to significantly reduce the number of DUIs and traffic accidents that occur as a consequence of reckless driving.
Conclusion
Although incorporating strict traffic rules is not enough to reduce the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol, combining this feature with several others can deliver impressive results.
Therefore, stricter traffic laws are essential when combined with responsive law enforcement and effective prosecution. Together, they contribute to the decreasing number of DUIs and car accidents not only in New York but in the entire U.S.