New York – 5,000 Ignition Interlock Devices Installed for Convicted Drunk Drivers

New York – New York plans to keep reimbursing counties for monitoring convicted drunk drivers who are required to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has awarded $3 million to continue reimbursement for a second year.

The devices, with more than 5,000 installed statewide, require the driver to blow into them. The vehicle won’t start if even trace amounts of alcohol are detected.

The Child Passenger Protection Act, called Leandra’s Law, took effect in 2009 and made it a felony to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a passenger under 16 years old. There have been more than 1,600 arrests so far.

Another provision, effective in 2010, requires anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony drunk driving to be subject to ignition interlock installation.