Syracuse, NY - A Liverpool woman was the first person sentenced in Onondaga County Court today under the new provisions of anti-DWI legislation that went into effect Sunday. Erin Schardt, 43, of Buckley Road, was sentenced by Judge Anthony Aloi to five years’ probation and ordered to get an ignition interlock installed in any vehicle she owns and drives. As...
Syracuse, NY - A Liverpool woman was the first person sentenced in Onondaga County Court today under the new provisions of anti-DWI legislation that went into effect Sunday.
Erin Schardt, 43, of Buckley Road, was sentenced by Judge Anthony Aloi to five years’ probation and ordered to get an ignition interlock installed in any vehicle she owns and drives.
As of Sunday, any person convicted of misdemeanor or felony DWI in New York must have an interlock device installed in any vehicle they own and drive. That was part of the Leandra’s Law legislation that initially went into effect Dec. 18 making it a felony for a motorist to drive drunk with someone younger than 16 in the vehicle.
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Schardt was charged March 10 with driving while intoxicated in the parking lot of Northern Lights Plaza in Salina with a child in the vehicle with her. She pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated DWI with a child.
Aloi noted that was a felony on Schardt’s permanent record even though she had no prior involvement with law enforcement. Normally a first DWI is a misdemeanor, but Leandra’s Law makes it a felony for DWI with a child in the vehicle.
Aloi explained to Schardt in court that she can get the necessary information from the probation department about the various companies that will provide the required interlock device. He noted that because such devices must be installed in any vehicles Schardt might drive, it puts a potential burden on any other family members who might drive the same vehicles.
The judge noted the installation of the interlock devices may enable the probation department to keep better tabs on DWI probationers without the need for surprise home visits to test for alcohol consumption.
The Leandra’s Law consequences to motorists are “significant, but appropriate,” Aloi said in sentencing Schardt.
In addition to the probationary sentence, Schardt was fined $1,000 and had her driver’s license revoked for a year.