N.Y. cracks down on multiple DUI convictions

• Tweet

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Some 20,000 New York drivers will have their licenses revoked or delayed because of repeat alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions, the governor says.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, said under current law drivers who are convicted of multiple offenses cannot permanently lose their licenses and some still have a license after six or seven alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions.

"We are saying 'enough is enough' to those who have chronically abused their driving privileges and threatened the safety of other drivers, passengers and pedestrians," Cuomo said in a statement.

The regulations call for:

-- The DMV to review the lifetime record of all drivers who apply to have a license reinstated after a revocation.

-- The DMV to deny any application for reinstatement of a license after revocation if the applicant has five or more alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions in his or her lifetime or three or more alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions in the last 25 years plus at least one other serious driving offense during that period. A serious driving offense includes a fatal crash, a driving-related penal law conviction, 20 or more points assessed for driving violations within the last 25 years, or having two or more driving convictions each worth 5 points or more.

-- Drivers seeking reinstatement of a license after revocation who have three or four alcohol- or drug-related convictions but no serious driving offense in the last 25 years will be denied their applications for five years if the applicant's license was revoked for an alcohol- or drug-related offense.

-- Drivers whose revocations stem from an alcohol-related offense will require an interlock on the vehicle driven by the applicant for five years.