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North Country Sen. Little says bill she is urging Gov. Cuomo to sign would improve boating safety for public

Posted 8/4/16

State Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve a measure that she says would help improve safety for the boating public. The bill (S.3785a/A.1597a) would require a …

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North Country Sen. Little says bill she is urging Gov. Cuomo to sign would improve boating safety for public

Posted

State Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve a measure that she says would help improve safety for the boating public.

The bill (S.3785a/A.1597a) would require a sentencing judge to consider whether someone convicted of boating while intoxicated (BWI) has a previous driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction.

Little represents the 45th Senate District, which includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Colton, Hopkinton, Parishville and Lawrence, and the entire counties of Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren and Washington. Currently, says Little, there is no legal linkage between the two statutes, making it possible to be sentenced as a first-time offender for boating while intoxicated despite previous and perhaps multiple convictions of driving while intoxicated.

The measure passed both houses with overwhelming support, said Little.

Gov. Cuomo would have ten days to act on the measure once delivered to his office. Because hundreds of bills are passed by both houses each session, legislation is delivered in small, manageable groups in the months following the end of legislative session, which allows time to study each one before acting.

Little is requesting that the bill move forward as soon as possible.