One of the Hudson Valley’s Most Respected Criminal Defense Law Firms, We Represent Defendants Charged With Leandra’s Law Offenses

Our founding lawyer has won major acquittals for clients throughout the Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, Rockland and Orange County NY area.

In 2009, an 11-year old girl named Leandra was killed while riding in a vehicle driven by the intoxicated mother of one of her friends. Recognizing the tragedy and seriousness of the circumstances, New York’s legislature created Leandra’s Law, which strengthened the DWI / DUI laws and penalties. The repercussions are extremely serious. If you have been charged with one of these offenses, you need to retain an attorney who has successfully represented DWI and DUI clients.

Leandra’s Law Provisions

The law contains two components: (1) to strengthen the penalties for driving while impaired with children in the vehicle, and (2) to require ignition interlocks for those convicted of a DWI / DUI offense. Key provisions of the law include:

• First time DWI / DUI offenders who were driving with a child younger than 16 years old in the vehicle may be charged with a class E felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison.
• DWI offenders charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater with a child in the vehicle younger than 16 will automatically have their license suspended pending prosecution
• Drivers convicted of a misdemeanor or felony DWI must install and maintain an ignition interlock on any vehicle they own or operate for at least 12 months, which is in addition to any prison term.
• DWI or DUI drivers that cause the death of a child younger than 16 in the vehicle may be charged with a class B felony, which is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
• DWI or DUI drivers who cause serious physical injury to a child in the vehicle may be charged with a class C felony, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
• Parents, guardians, custodians, and any person legally responsible for a child who are charged with a DWI or DUI offense while that child is a passenger in the vehicle will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

Our legal team has successfully defended clients in DWI / DUI cases for over 30 years. We offer 24 hour service and are available to represent you at the time of your arrest. We are able to build a strong defense because understand the complexity of driving related cases, including the science behind blood test mechanisms, and know when to call upon accident reconstruction experts, toxicologists and other experts when needed.