Driving While Intoxicated

Persons driving while intoxicated (DWI) pose a threat to the entire community. In 2006, the Criminal Court Bureau continued its collaboration with other government agencies such as the NYPD and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to obtain convictions in DWI cases.

In 2006, there were 1,153 individuals arrested in the Bronx and charged with offenses involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Seventeen of these individuals were indicted on felony DWI charges. (A person can only be charged with the felony if he or she is currently charged with DWI or driving while impaired by drugs and has a prior conviction within the past 10 years for one of these offenses).

In 2006, a total of 989 misdemeanor DWI cases were disposed. The Office obtained convictions in 98% of these cases.

The Bureau continued to work with the DOT in the state-funded Stop DWI Program, which operates throughout New York City. The program is dedicated to fighting drunk driving through public education and also assists law enforcement with monetary, technical, legislative and legal support. As part of its comprehensive involvement in DWI issues, the Office sent a representative to present DWI prosecution issues at three New York Prosecutors Training Institute (NYPTI) courses attended by a total of about 120 Assistant District Attorneys and police officers from throughout New York State. The Office also sent a representative to make presentations at two statewide conferences sponsored by the NYS STOP-DWI Program and attended by more than 400 law enforcement professionals.

The Bureau participates in DOT’s Stop DWI Criminal Justice Task Force, a group with representatives from each City District Attorney’s office and the NYPD, to coordinate citywide DWI prosecutions. The Office has coordinated extensive training of all New York City Police Collision Investigators in the latest collision reconstruction methodologies. The Office uses DOT community service programs and refers some DWI offenders for treatment in Bronx Lebanon Hospital’s Stop DWI Program.