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ARTICLE 21 - New York Vehicle and Traffic Law
ALCOHOL AND DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Section 520. Statement of findings and declaration of purpose.
523. Reports.
523-a. Driver improvement clinic programs.
523-b. Experimental driver safety programs.
§ 520. Statement of findings and declaration of purpose. The
ever-increasing number of accidents, personal injuries and deaths
resulting from alcohol or drug-related traffic offenses is a matter of
great concern to the legislature. The diminished perception of
intoxicated and impaired operators of motor vehicles presents a constant
and intolerable threat to the lives and well-being of the citizens of
the state. Efforts aimed at alleviating this threat have proven
inadequate. The public interest in the cause of highway safety will be
well served by the implementation of a permanent program of
rehabilitation for those operators convicted of alcohol or drug-related
traffic offenses and certain operators who have been adjudicated
youthful offenders for alcohol or drug-related traffic offenses. The
commissioner of motor vehicles should have the authority to offer to
such operators an opportunity for rehabilitation, thereby reducing the
threat aimed at themselves and the people of the state.
§ 523. Reports. The commissioner shall report to the governor and to
the legislature annually with respect to the status of the alcohol and
drug rehabilitation program, including therein, among other things, the
scope and results of procedures for screening and referral of program
participants exhibiting an early stage, of alcoholism or chronic life
problem with alcohol, providing that such report shall not contain the
name of or otherwise identify participants in such program.
§ 523-a. Driver improvement clinic programs. In addition to the driver
rehabilitation program authorized by section eleven hundred ninety-six
of this chapter, the commissioner may establish, by regulation,
guidelines for alcohol and highway safety programs. The purpose of such
programs should be to inform participants of the effects of alcohol on
driving, to discuss problem drinking and its effects, to provide
assistance to individuals with referral to alcoholism treatment agencies
and to provide instruction with respect to proper driving techniques and
driver attitude. The commissioner shall establish criteria for requiring
attendance at such clinics, and may, pending attendance at such clinic,
suspend the driver's license or privilege of any person who fails to
attend such clinic as required by such regulations. Such criteria may
provide for the required attendance at such clinic of any person who, as
a result of the conviction for a moving traffic violation, is referred
by the trial court for such attendance. The commissioner shall establish
a fee to be paid by any person who attends any such program. Such fee
shall be used to defray the ongoing expenses of the program. Where the
commissioner has approved any driver improvement program conducted by
local authorities, any such fee shall be paid to the agency conducting
such program.
§ 523-b. Experimental driver safety programs. The commissioner may
study the feasibility of programs to improve driver behavior, attitude,
performance or skills in order to reduce motor vehicle accidents and
traffic violations, and to promote highway safety. He shall have the
authority to establish such programs on a limited, experimental basis in
order to assist in such feasibility study provided any such program is
funded by any source other than state funds, or if any such program is
to be funded with state funds, then he may establish such program only
with the approval of the director of the division of the budget.