Kathleen Rice
PER
Kathleen Rice Rice
In her first policy initiative since taking office in January, the Nassau County district attorney, Kathleen Rice, pledged on Monday to crack down on a ''drunk driving epidemic'' by seeking tougher penalties against many first-time offenders. Those arrested with blood-alcohol levels of 0.13 percent or higher will no longer be allowed to negotiate plea bargains and will face a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated. If her policy had been in place in 2005, about 900 more drivers would have faced charges of driving while intoxicated. She said the new policy was aimed at reducing the rate of recidivism by escalating the penalties for repeat offenders. She also pledged on Monday to recommend jail time for any driver who is arrested for drunken driving twice in five years. She would also push for passage of a bill that would require that repeat offenders serve at least five days in jail. The Nassau County district attorney, Kathleen Rice, pledged on Monday to crack down on a ''drunk driving epidemic'' by seeking tougher penalties against many first-time offenders. Rice said the new policy was aimed at reducing the rate of recidivism by escalating the penalties for repeat offenders. She also said she would push for passage of a bill introduced by State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., a Republican who represents Nassau County, that would require that repeat offenders serve at least five days in jail.