Troy, NY -- Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly joined the families of those that have been impacted by drunk drivers in our community for a Memorial Ceremony earlier today. The event was held at the site of the Rensselaer County DWI Memorial in Troy as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights week.
The DWI Memorial was establish in 2000 and stands at the intersection of 13th and Congress Street in Troy. Honored were 40 residents of Rensselaer County that have lost their lives to an impaired driver accident. One name, Kathy M. Elwell was added to the Memorial this year.
District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said, “Kathy was a Rensselaer County resident who lost her life to a drunk driver forty years ago, leaving behind three young children and a grieving family. Kathy’s daughter Sarah contacted our office to share her mother’s story and we are pleased to have this chance to place her name on the Memorial.”
District Attorney Donnelly stated, “we need stronger laws in New York State to hold offenders accountable when they drive under the influence of dangerous drugs. This year, the Governor included the Deadly Driving Bill in her budget proposal. While things are moving quickly over in Albany with an overdue budget, my understanding as of this morning, is that the proposal remains in the budget. That law would fix New York State’s loophole which requires that, in order to charge drugged driving, the drug which the driver has consumed must be identified and named as one of those set forth in New York State’s Public Health Law. That means those who use synthetic drugs, drug variants and misused household intoxicants continue to escape penalty. New York State lawmakers need to enact the Deadly Driving Bill, which would close the loopholes associated with the prosecution of cases involving driving while ability impaired by drugs.”
She left the attendees with this message, “I reiterate my concern about the legalization of marijuana and the impact that it will continue to have on our ability to keep our roadways safe. Please help me carry the message to our community that marijuana use and driving are a dangerous mix.”