Drunk Driver Arrested in Violation of Leandra’s Law

Riverhead Town Police arrested a woman on charges of violating Leandra’s Law when she was driving drunk with her two children in the car.

Town officers stopped Prudence B. Williams on East Main Street on April 28 at approximately 11:50 p.m. for a vehicle and traffic law infraction. Police found that she was “driving under the influence of alcohol” while her two daughters — a six-year-old and a six-month-old — were in the vehicle with her.

Riverhead Town Police arrested a woman on charges of violating Leandra’s Law when she was driving drunk with her two children in the car.

Town officers stopped Prudence B. Williams on East Main Street on April 28 at approximately 11:50 p.m. for a vehicle and traffic law infraction. Police found that she was “driving under the influence of alcohol” while her two daughters — a six-year-old and a six-month-old — were in the vehicle with her.

Williams was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, police said. She was scheduled to be arraigned on April 29, 2016 at Riverhead Justice Court.

Leandra’s Law was named for Leandra Rosado, an eleven-year-old girl who was killed in a DWI crash on October 11, 2009 when the minivan in which she was riding crashed on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. Under Leandra’s Law, offenders who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and have a child passenger are charged with a felony.

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a dangerous and costly criminal offense. Alcohol not only severely impairs your driving abilities; it also affects your judgment and coordination. If you are convicted of a DWI as a first offense, the consequences may be harsh. Common consequences include fines of between $500 and $1,000, up to 1 year in jail, a minimum of 3 years’ probation, and revocation of your driver’s license up to 1 year. In addition, there are a number of other fines and programs that may be imposed on you by the court.

Furthermore, if you are charged with a DWI within 10 years of having been convicted of either a DWI or other related offenses; you can be charged with a felony DWI. The consequences of such a charge include prison time of 1-1/3 – 4 years in a state correctional facility, 5 years probation, fines and surcharges, and the loss of your license for a significant time.

Being pulled over for a DWI can be a shocking, stressful, and embarrassing experience. It is important to remember that you are innocent until New York State proves your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, you have the right to effective, competent, and experienced legal representation. If you or a loved one has been charged or arrested for a DWI, contact the experienced Long Island DWI attorneys at McGuire & Peláez to zealously represent you.