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Abstract: 

Leandra Rosado was killed in October 2009 on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City. Carmen Huertas, who was taking Leandra, her own daughter, and four other girls to a sleepover in the Bronx, had a 0.12% BAC. She admitted to the police that she had been drinking. Leandra’s father, Lenny Rosado, decided to take action when he was told that his daughter’s killer would probably serve no more than a few years in jail. (See Denis Foley, “Leandra’s Law: A Father Speaks Out,” 15(4) IDU 80 (Fall 2011).) He lobbied the New York State Legislature and Governor Patterson; the result was the Child Passenger Protection Act (VTL 1192.21ab), referred to as Leandra’s Law. The law is America’s toughest child protection vehicle act. The ITSMR study shows that drivers are being arrested and convicted under the Leandra’s Law statute, and that the drivers convicted are relatively mature, with the majority between 30 and 50 yearsof- age. The law has resulted in a decrease in alcohol-related fatalities overall. The press highlights Leandra’s Law convictions and arrests, adding to the deterrence value of the law. The ITSMR study was funded by the NHTSA through the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Keywords: ticket data; tickets issued by driver age and gender; tickets issued by time of day, day of week; increased DWI sanctions

Affiliations:  1: Rockefeller College, University at Albany.