Albany Co. DA describes "You're Blowing It" campaign
From now on, if you're pulled over under suspicion of driving drunk and you refuse to blow into a breathalyzer, prosecutors will no longer be letting you plea to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired.Lucky timing for Detective Miller...
ALBANY -- Police Chief Steven Krokoff said he is revising internal policies as he released video on Wednesday that shows longtime department spokesman James Miller stumbling and struggling to keep his balance.
The Albany County District Attorney's office is changing the way it prosecutes drunk drivers.
The change would have affected Jimmy Miller's case.
FOX23's Paul Merrill sat down with District Attorney David Soares who says he will announce a campaign called "You're Blowing It."
From now on, if you're pulled over under suspicion of driving drunk and you refuse to blow into a breathalyzer, prosecutors will no longer be letting you plea to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired.
Soares will make the formal announcement on Wednesday. The DA says the change in his office's policy is not a direct response to the case against Jimmy Miller although this change would have affected Miller's case.
Miller was charged with DWI but later pled guilty to a DWAI charge. Miller refused the breathalyzer test.
The DA wants people to get the message that they're blowing their chances of a plea deal if they refuse to blow into the device.
"People who are apprehended for, and investigated for driving while intoxicated will have to cooperate and will have to blow into the data-master or else they will not be getting the benefit of a plea bargain," said Soares.
The DA's office has also started a public awareness campaign putting "You're Blowing It" billboards up around Albany.
FOX23 will have much more on this story coming up tonight at FOX23 News at 10 and 11. Hear what a local defense attorney has to say about the changes.
The change would have affected Jimmy Miller's case.
FOX23's Paul Merrill sat down with District Attorney David Soares who says he will announce a campaign called "You're Blowing It."
From now on, if you're pulled over under suspicion of driving drunk and you refuse to blow into a breathalyzer, prosecutors will no longer be letting you plea to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired.
Soares will make the formal announcement on Wednesday. The DA says the change in his office's policy is not a direct response to the case against Jimmy Miller although this change would have affected Miller's case.
Miller was charged with DWI but later pled guilty to a DWAI charge. Miller refused the breathalyzer test.
The DA wants people to get the message that they're blowing their chances of a plea deal if they refuse to blow into the device.
"People who are apprehended for, and investigated for driving while intoxicated will have to cooperate and will have to blow into the data-master or else they will not be getting the benefit of a plea bargain," said Soares.
The DA's office has also started a public awareness campaign putting "You're Blowing It" billboards up around Albany.
FOX23 will have much more on this story coming up tonight at FOX23 News at 10 and 11. Hear what a local defense attorney has to say about the changes.
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