In an effort to help prevent underage drinking and drunk driving, legislation sponsored by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. and signed into law by Governor George E. Pataki, took effect on Sept. 1 and increased penalties for underage drinkers who use false or forged out-of-state identification to purchase alcohol.

According to Fuschillo, his new law now penalizes any person with a 90-day driver license suspension for using a false or fraudulent out-of-state driver license to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol. The previous law only penalized underage consumers with a license suspension if they used a false or fraudulent New York state license.

Úquot;Many underage consumers became wise to the loophole that they faced a lesser penalty if they used a false driver license from another state to purchase alcohol and were, therefore, willing to take the chance,Úquot; Fuschillo said. Úquot;By making the penalty equivalent with the use of a fraudulent New York state license, we are making it more difficult for minors to purchase alcohol and sending a message that the state has a zero tolerance for underage drinking.Úquot;

The Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) estimates that 18 percent of drivers between 16 and 20, amounting to 2.5 million adolescents, drive under the influence of alcohol. Every day, according to the Center for Substance Abuse programs, eight young people die on American roads in alcohol-related crashes. Plus, people who begin drinking at age 16 or younger are more likely to be dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking at 21 or older.

Úquot;The temptation to give into peer pressure for teenagers, especially those leaving home for the first time to attend college, is overwhelming,Úquot; Fuschillo added. Úquot;Therefore, suspending driving privileges is an appropriate consequence, because it will impede upon their freedom of getting around town and may also help to keep drunk drivers off of our roads.Úquot;

Fuschillo has been a leading advocate in Albany in the fight against drunk driving. He works closely with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is the sponsor of legislation to lower the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level in New York state from .10 to .08, and sponsors anti -DWI messages throughout his district.