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The law returns drinking driving fines to counties which,
in turn, set up programs for drinking driving
enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, and education.
Every county in New York State has a STOP-DWI program.
This means
more police with better equipment are on the roads
looking for drinking or impaired drivers, more district
attorneys are prosecuting them, and more judges are
hearing drinking driving cases. If you are stopped by a
police officer who believes you are under the influence
of alcohol or drugs, you may be required to take a "field
sobriety test" which may include a breath-screening test
for the presence of alcohol. If you are arrested, you
will be asked to take a "chemical test" for BAC.
Zero Tolerance law:
This law makes it illegal for a driver under age 21 to
have consumed any alcohol. A police officer, who believes
you have consumed alcohol, but not enough to charge a
violation of DWI or DWAI, may temporarily detain you to
request or administer a chemical test to determine your
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). If your BAC is .02 to .07
percent, you will be notified to appear at a DMV hearing.
If the judge's finding supports the charge, the penalty
is a 6-month license suspension, a $125 civil penalty,
and a $100 suspension termination fee.
No right turns on red in NYC:
In every other city in the United States you are allowed
to make a right turn on a red light after a full stop.
However, in New York City this is illegal, unless
otherwise noted by a traffic sign.
Child safety laws:
- Children under 7 years old must be secured in a child restraint.
- All children ages 7 to 16 must be restrained by a safety belt.
- Penalties include a fine of no less than $25 and not more than
$100. A $30 surcharge will be added to the fines imposed
for a violation of this provision. A violation of this
provision will appear on a driver's record. Three points
will be assigned to a driver's license. A driver's
insurance company has access to the driving record of the
insured driver and may learn of any violation on the
driver's record by inspection.
Seatbelt laws:
I. Primary Enforcement
II. Each front seat passenger and every driver of
a passenger motor vehicle shall have a safety belt on
while the vehicle is in forward motion. Children under 16
who are riding in the back seat of a passenger vehicle
must also use a safety belt.
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