Seaford dad fights for bill to keep impaired drivers off LI roads

<p>A Seaford native says he is waiting for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill that would require drug and alcohol testing for drivers involved in crashes involving serious injury or a fatality.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 17, 2017, 5:32 PM

Updated 2,375 days ago

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A Seaford native says he is waiting for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill that would require drug and alcohol testing for drivers involved in crashes resulting in serious injury or a fatality. 
It was six years ago this week that James Walker was in a crosswalk with the right of way in Brightwaters when he was struck and killed by a vehicle. The driver was never tested for drugs or alcohol. 
"In the console of the car was Adderall in a plastic bag, not even in a prescription bottle. They didn't test her," says Phillip Walker, James' father. 
A measure requiring mandatory testing was finally passed by both the state Senate and Assembly this past summer. But it still hasn't been signed by Gov. Cuomo. In fact, the Senate still hasn't sent the bill to the governor's office. 
The spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan tells News 12, "We send bills to the governor's office at their request, usually in batches of a dozen or so to provide them with adequate time to review each one. The Senate sponsor has identified this bill as a priority, and we expect to have discussions on it in a timely manner."
Not soon enough for Phillip. He says he's worried this fight will have to start all over again if the governor doesn't sign it before Jan. 1, 2018. 
"It's like bread, milk or a grape on a vine, they all have an expiration date or they dry up," says Walker. "If it doesn't get to the governor soon, I may have to start all over again next year. And I will do that."
The governor's office told News 12 that the bill is under review.


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