Assemblyman Keith P. Brown (R,C-Northport) spoke at a rally in Albany on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, to help curb driving while impaired on drugs (a.k.a. deadly drugged-driving), support the call to close drugged-driving-related loopholes and promote legislation that will help keep everyone safe on the road. Brown was joined by Assembly and Senate members on both sides of the aisle and the Coalition to Protect New Yorkers from Drugged Driving (CPNYDD). He was also joined by members of the community, families who have been affected by deadly accidents involving those who were driving while impaired and innocent victims who were involved in drugged-driving-related accidents.

“I was proud to speak at this drugged-driving rally today,” said Brown. “​Just like drunk driving, drugged-driving poses a significant risk to public safety and must be taken seriously. Accidents and fatalities related to drugged-driving have drastically increased since 2020. Just recently, in July of 2024, a man from Lindenhurst on Long Island was sentenced to seven to 21 years behind bars for killing a family of four in a drugged-driving accident. The defendant was reported driving while high on fentanyl at 120 mph when he hit the rear of the Huntley family’s car while it was parked at a traffic light. Tragically, Patrice Huntley, his son Jeremiah, his daughter Hannah and his step-granddaughter Chantel, were killed.”

“The defendant should never have been driving, and if he hadn’t been, Patrice, Jeremiah, Hannah and Chantel would never have been killed. To prevent future drugged-driving-related accidents like this one, the state must act now during this session to push forward policy changes that will keep impaired drivers off the road, get impaired drivers into treatment and keep New Yorkers safe.”

In order to reduce drugged-driving incidents and improve driver safety statewide, Brown supports Assembly Bill A.3981, which aims to update New York state’s laws regarding driving while impaired by drugs. Provisions of this bill include:

• Amending the definition of “drug” in the Vehicle and Traffic Law to include any substance or combination of substances that impair, to any extent, physical or mental abilities;
• Statutorily defining “impaired” and “intoxication” to prevent uncertainty surrounding their meaning. This legislation will re-establish “impaired” and “intoxication” as separate standards;
• Updating New York law regarding field testing for drugged driving to include the use of oral/bodily fluids;
• Providing that refusing to submit to a field test is a traffic infraction and refusing a Drug Recognition Expert exam will result in license revocation;
• Expanding the circumstances where a court can order a compulsory chemical test in a suspected drunk or drugged driving crash; and
• Updating the law regarding the suspension of licenses pending prosecution by adding drugged drivers with charges supported by testing or admissions.

“Anyone who is impaired or intoxicated should never, ever get behind the wheel, and proposals like A.3981 will help prevent tragedy from occurring. I am calling on Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes to support Assembly Bill A.3981 and include it in the FY 2025-26 one-house budget. This bill will save lives!”

To view footage of Assemblyman Keith Brown speaking at the Drugged-Driving Rally on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, please click here.