Legislative Advocacy
Andrew’s Law
With the help of our partners in the New York State Legislature, the Andrew McMorris Foundation is proud to effect legislative change in Andrew’s memory.
What is Andrew’s Law in New York State?
Senate Bill 1041 by Senator Anthony Palumbo
Assembly Bill by Assemblymember Jodi Giglio
To correct longstanding inequalities and inequities as it relates to victims of violent offenses that result in serious physical injury and/or death, including mass casualty incidents where multiple or numerous people are maimed, seriously injured, and/or killed by the use of a vehicle.
Andrew’s Law proposes three fixes to vehicular law in New York State:
1. Reclassifies vehicular crimes that result in serious physical injury and/or death as violent crimes.
Because what happened to Andrew was violent.
2. Authorizes consecutive sentencing for vehicular crimes that result in multiple victims or mass casualties.
Because each victim matters.
3. Expedite the process for obtaining a warrant for a blood sample when a drunk or drugged driver seriously injures or kills another person.
Because for our defendant, it took over 4 hrs to obtain a blood warrant, essentially letting evidence metabolize and evaporate while we waited.
Learn More About Andrew’s Law
MADD’s Legislative Priorities for New York State
Learn More About Our Legislative Advocacy
Advanced Impaired Driving Technology signed into Federal Law!
The $1 trillion Infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in November 2021 includes a section entitled “Advanced Impaired Driving Technology,” which calls on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set new safety standards that advocates say will prevent drunk, impaired and distracted driving.
AMF worked with MADD to lobby legislators to pass this bill.
The legislation will require vehicles manufactured after a certain date to come equipped with technology that could include driving performance monitoring systems like lane departure warning and attention assist, a camera or sensor system to monitor the driver’s head and eyes or alcohol detection systems that would determine whether a driver is drunk and then prevent the car from moving. Once the safety standards are set, automakers will be given a three-year window to implement the technology, meaning vehicles made after 2026 will have the monitoring systems.
“We need technology to stop the nightmare on our roads,” said Alex Otte, MADD national president. “Existing technologies and those in development will stop the hazardous driving behavior of people who refuse to make the right choice themselves.”
Ms. Otte and other advocates are hailing the bill’s passage as the biggest legislative victory in the group’s 41-year history.
Ms. Otte also said it could virtually eliminate drunk driving.
Learn More About Alcohol Detection Technology
This technology is a game changer, and it’s already available in many vehicles. Volvo is putting distraction detection technology in many of its new vehicles, and alcohol detection technology has proven to be extremely effective in ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers. Learn more about advanced detection technology here.