wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Any person convicted of drunken driving in Suffolk and sentenced to blow into an interlock device before driving would be tracked by a GPS device that could automatically alert law enforcement if they fail the breath test under legislation adopted by the Suffolk Legislature Tuesday.


The bill, which passed on a unanimous vote, would require any interlock device to have real-time Internet monitoring and GPS tracking technology. It would also require that the system be able to photograph the driver and transmit the picture, have two-way audio technology and have automatic 911 emergency response capability.


Legis. Lou D'Amaro (D-North Babylon), who sponsored the bill, said it could help police stop repeat drunken drivers before they cause an innocent person harm.


"What you're hoping is that one time one of these features will alert the Suffolk police and perhaps you would have a cruiser intercept a drunk driver in time," he said. "There's amazing technology out there, and I think we need to put it to good use."

Legis. Tom Barraga (R-West Islip) said the bill and the technology does not go far enough. He said the federal government should "have automakers require all cars come with noninvasive in-car Breathalyzers."

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy will evaluate the legislation, spokesman Mark Smith said.

In other action, lawmakers increased the fine for violations of its law forbidding adults from providing alcohol for minors or space for minors to drink. The fine increased from $250 to $500, and the social host law expanded to include college dorm rooms.

Smith said Levy would sign the social host bills into law.

source: Newsday.com

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

They really are starting to try and crack down on the repeat offenders because they are becoming such an issue. The statistics show that a HUGE number of fatal DWI crashes are caused by repeat offenders -- most of whom have done it more than 2 or 3 times rather than just having one previous offense.

The animal that killed Officer Ciano, for example, had been arrested just ONE MONTH prior to hitting Officer Ciano... almost exactly to the day. He had no license and didn't even have a chance to go to court yet for the first offense before he was out doing it again!

And, interestingly enough, the moron that hit Kenneth had a previous offense on his record for driving with an open container! Aside from the 894859745 driving with no license and insurance infractions on his record. That little bit of info didn't come out until the trial so we learned it later on. Scary!

The person who killed the poor girl that had stopped to ask for directions on Route 110 had been arrested before - twice! And he fled the scene after he hit her! So, I can think of several off the top of my head. It's scary.

This sounds great - it is sad that they have to even do this.

Message edited 12/7/2010 11:41:40 PM.

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

I thought the interlock device was supposed to prevent the car from starting for someone under the influence so the GPS wouldn't be triggered.

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders

Re: wow...new Suffolk County DWI bill- will use GPS to track offenders