Officials in New York City Reassessing DWI Test Process
Thousands of innocent car accident victims lose their lives or are severely injured each year as a result of drunk drivers. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in every state. Now, according to an Associated Press news report, New York City officials are reassessing the legal process that determines whether someone was drinking and driving in a serious car accident. This process began after blood alcohol tests were not performed for two hours on two off-duty officers who were charged with vehicular manslaughter in separate incidents.
In the case of the two officers, they declined to take breath tests at the scene, which they are allowed to do under the law. Both were tested several hours later. One test came back clean while the other showed the blood alcohol level to be twice the legal limit. The problem here is that the delay in the testing process gives drunk drivers the time to sober up. City police commissioner Raymond Kelly has assembled a panel to discuss this important issue with district attorneys and formulate ways to get these sobriety tests done in a quick and effective manner so accurate blood alcohol reading may be obtained.
The process as it exists is not fair to accident victims. While drunk drivers are given a chance to get away without paying the price despite acting negligently, victims are either severely injured or killed in DUI accidents. Injured victims are faced with steep medical bills, loss of property, and family members of a wrongful death victim must endure the loss of a loved one.
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, please contact the experienced New York drunk driving victim lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP for a free consultation. Our skilled attorneys have extensive experience and a successful track record in all areas of personal injury and wrongful death. We also have an excellent understanding of the intricacies of the complex no-fault law in New York as well as insurance coverage issues relating to uninsured and underinsured motorists.
Source Article: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/new_york_city_officials_review.html
