Monique Dixon watched the unanimous vote take place on the Assembly floor this past Monday. Dixon's son, Vasean Phillip Alleyne, for whom the law is named, was killed last year by a motorist charged with drunk driving. Standing by her side was Diana Reyes, whose son, Angel,was critically injured in the same crash.
The two mothers have been on a crusade since their sons were struck by a drunk driver whose blood alcohol content was .13 (the legal limit is .08). Since that time, the parents have collected more than 10,000 signatures and lobbied legislators to change state laws regarding drunk drivers.
"The passage of Vasean's Law is a powerful and moving testament to the will of all victims and families of drunk drivers," Alfano said. "Vasean's killer couldn't be charged with a felony under the old law. It was a disgrace. With this new law, the drunk driver will be charged and justice will finally be served.
Alfano got involved with the bill and joined Queens assmblymembers McLaughlin and Mayersohn in the weeks after the crash that took Vasean's life. "We've had tragedies right here in our community with crashes involving drunk drivers," Alfano said. "The key with this bill, which will become law, is that prosecutors can finally charge the drunk driver with a felony and end the games that have taken place with these kind of tragedies.
"With the passing of Vasean's Law, prosecutors have been given a tool they can use so drunk drivers are charged for the results of their actions," Dixon said. "New victims can demand justice and drunk drivers can expect it."
Vasean's Lw would strengthen provisions of current law to make it easier for district attorneys to prosecute drivers for vehicular assault and vehicular manslaughter when serious physical injury or death is caused by a person driving a vehicle while intoxicated or impaired by the use of a drug.
"Now the DA can go after drunk drivers and prosecute them for a felony," Alfano said. "There will no longer be the slap on the wrist - you'll go to jail."
Under the terms of the legislation, existing state law would be tightened by removing the element of criminal negligence now required to prosecute crimes of vehicular assault and vehicular manslaughter. The measure would provide that a person who drove intoxicated and killed or seriously injured another person because of that intoxication would be guilty of vehicular manslaughter or vehicular assault. The bill would also create a statutory presumption that any driver who killed or injured while drunk was guilty of a felony.
McLaughlin, lead sponsor of the measure said, "I regret that there is even a need for Vasean's Law. While no law can take away the pain of losing a loved one or being injured at the hands of a drunk driver, Vsean's Law will make a difference. Monique Dixon and Diana Reys epitomize the good that a mother's love can bring."
Governor Pataki has said he will sign the bill into law when it reaches his desk for signature.
