Thanks to a group of overly tanned twenty-somethings and a set of extremely toned abs, people across the United States are more familiar with the Jersey Shore than ever before. As portrayed on the shore, the Jersey Shore is known as the summer party spot for the twenty-something crowd in New Jersey and its surrounding states. Unfortunately, not all of those enjoying in the endless summer parties are of legal age.

Parents of underage children who may be traveling to the Jersey Shore's resort areas can rest a bit easier. New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow recently held a press conference in Wildwood, NJ to announce a major crackdown on underage drinking at the Jersey Shore.

Last summer, over 500 underage drinkers were arrested at the Jersey Shore. This year, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Division of Highway Safety partnered to combat the underage drinking problem. Additionally, Dow is encouraging law enforcement officials to charge underage drinkers to the fullest extent of the law.

Currently, underage drinkers face steep fines and the loss of his or her driver’s license for 6 months if convicted. That’s right, in New Jersey underage drinking can lead to the loss of a driver's license even if you are not driving! Dow explained that charging underage drinkers to the fullest extent of the law will get their attention. She said, “Driving is a privilege. Take away that privilege and you’ll get people’s attention.”

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is sending the strong message that the consequences of underage drinking reach far beyond the legal ramifications. According to the division’s director, the division wants young people to be aware of the life-changing consequences that affect the drinker and all of the people whose lives may be affected by his or her drunken decisions.

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety also aims to combat a growing problem in New Jersey: drugged driving. According to the division’s director, Pam Fischer, that 28,705 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2008 in New Jersey. Of those people charged, 2,938 of them were under the age of 21.

Fischer said, “While we continue to made steady progress in our fight to keep drunk drivers off of our roads, we still have a long way to go if we are to ensure that all drivers, add in particular our newest and youngest ones, remain safe.” Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20. Young drivers are inexperienced and tend to have a false sense of confidence behind the wheel. When alcohol is incorporated into that scenario you have a recipe for disaster, especially in the summer months at the Jersey Shore.

Additional Articles to Prevent Underage Drinking:

How to Deal with Underage Drinking: Tips for Parents
Social Hosting: Underage Drinking

Labels: drunk driving, drunk driving laws, new york dui laws

In November, the New York State Assembly passed the toughest drunk driving law in the nation. The new legislation, known as Leandra's Law, was named for 11 year old Leandra Rosada who was killed just a month earlier while riding with the mother of one of her friends. Her friend's mother was allegedly driving while impaired and flipped her vehicle on Manhattan's Henry Hudson Parkway. The bill, signed by Governor Paterson on November 18th, imposes stiff new penalties for anyone who drives under the influence while a child under the age of 16 is in the car.

In the legislation's Statement of Support, the bill's authors wrote:

"While all persons who drive while intoxicated pose a danger to others, the person who knowingly chooses to drive drunk with children in the car has made a conscious decision to put those children at risk of harm or death. An adult can take steps to avoid riding with a drunk or impaired driver. But a child may not have that choice, particularly when the driver is a parent or guardian."

Previous New York Law made driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs a misdemeanor. The new law makes it a felony to drive under the influence while a child under the age of 16 is in the vehicle.

Other provisions in the law include:

A provision that requires law enforcement officers to note when a child a child or person other than the offender has been killed or suffered serious physical injury; or when a child of fifteen years or under is present in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.

A provision that requires law enforcement officers, when a child is present in the vehicle of an impaired driver who is their parent, legal guardian, or custodian, to report the offense to the Department of Social Services.

A provision that prohibits anyone charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child from any type of plea bargain that would reduce the charge down to a non-criminal offense.

A provision that mandates the installation of an interlock device in vehicles after the first conviction for driving under the influence and makes tampering with an interlock a criminal offense.

A provision that amends penal law to increase the penalties for anyone who commits any of the following offenses while driving under the influence:

Increases the charge of Vehicular Assault in the second degree to Vehicular Assault in the first degree for anyone who causes serious physical injury to a passenger who is under the age of 16.

Increases the charge for anyone who commits Vehicular Assault in the second degree to Aggravated Vehicular Assault if they engage in reckless driving that causes serious physical injury to a passenger who is a under the age of 16.

Increases the charge for anyone who commits Vehicular Manslaughter in the second degree to Vehicular Manslaughter in the first degree for anyone who causes the death of a passenger who is under the age of 16.

Increases the charge for anyone who commits the crime of Vehicular Manslaughter to Aggravated Vehicular Manslaughter for anyone who engages in reckless driving and causes the death of a passenger who is under the age of 16.

Labels: driver safety, driving under the influence, drunk driving laws, new york driving laws, new york dui laws