Coalition pushes for crackdown on drug-impaired driving
NEW YORK (PIX11) — A coalition of New York district attorneys is pushing for a stricter state law regarding driving while under the influence of drugs.
On Thursday, the Suffolk County, Queens and Bronx district attorneys, along with other elected officials and community members, hosted a press conference to push for the passage of the “Deadly Driving Bill.”
“Without an arrest, there is no accountability, and there’s nothing to stop the drugged driver from doing it again,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.
Currently, in New York State, a person cannot be charged for operating a vehicle while impaired by a substance that is not listed on a specific public health list.
Drivers can also refuse to have a drug test.
“In this era of designer drugs, TRANQ and thousands of others aren’t on the list, so if you happen to use those drugs, you can’t be prosecuted,” Tierney said. “Law enforcement has to elect what drug you’re on, so essentially, they have to guess, and if they guess wrong, your case gets dismissed.”
The proposed bill will get rid of the public health list and leave it to an officer to decide whether a drug impairs someone.
“Now they can arrest someone, process them, and submit them to a test, and if they refuse the test, we can use that refusal as evidence as well,” said Bronx DA Darcel Clark.
The Rahman family is on board and was at today’s press conference.
Mohammed Rahman, 67, was killed in September after being hit by a vehicle while crossing Castle Hill and Turnbull Avenue in the Bronx.
The driver, 28-year-old Victor Ramos, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, but the case is still pending.
Investigators said he was speeding and under the influence of marijuana.
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“He was going to a prayer, and everyone was waiting for him,” Rahman’s son Saidur said.
Vanessa and Kathy Lopez were also there and supported the bill.
Their sister Carina Lopez was killed in 2021 when she was hit by a driver under the influence of drugs.
That person pled guilty and is currently serving a five-to-15-year sentence.
The sisters hope a stricter law will deter others from driving while impaired.
“This could potentially save people’s lives. There’s a lot of people driving under the influence of drugs, and this could help make sure people get home safe,” Vanessa Lopez said.
New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez is a cosponsor of the bill and was at today’s press conference. She said it is in its early stages. The next step is for it to go to the committee.
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