BRONX, NY—District Attorneys from Suffolk, Bronx, and Queens counties have united to press for the swift passage of the “Deadly Driving Bill.” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, alongside Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, voiced their support for this crucial legislation during a Bronx rally. The event took place at the location where a 67-year-old man was tragically killed by an alleged drugged driver in September last year.
The district attorneys highlighted the urgent need for the bill, which aims to close legal loopholes that currently prevent the arrest and prosecution of drivers visibly impaired by drugs not listed in a specific section of the Public Health Law. “This Mother’s Day weekend, the consequences of drugged driving are starkly visible in the empty seats at family tables,” stated DA Tierney, emphasizing the widespread impact of such incidents.
DA Clark reinforced the necessity of the bill, pointing out that it would equip law enforcement with the tools needed to hold accountable those driving under the influence of any impairing substance. DA Katz further explained the ongoing vehicular violence epidemic in New York, citing increases in fatalities due to vehicular collisions in Queens. The proposed legislation aims to simplify the process of prosecuting drugged drivers, addressing significant gaps in the current vehicle and traffic laws.