In a response to two tragic DUI crashes involving mothers and children, New York State enacted some of the nation’s toughest drunk driving laws this week. The bill in New York makes it an automatic felony to drive drunk with a child under 16 in the car. Violators will be subject to a sentence of up to four years in prison, even for first time offenders. The bill also calls for interlock ignition devices for convicted offenders.
DUI laws in Florida are not nearly as stringent as these, but New York may be setting a precedent other states follow. According to the report on the CBS News website, the number of women arrested for DUI is up 29% over the last 10 years. They also reported that women driving drunk that were involved in fatal accidents were three times more likely to have a child under 14 in the car with them.
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