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Updated 11/14/2009 11:17 AM

Manhattan Rally Held In Support Of Leandra's Law

By: NY1 News

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Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the father of a girl killed in an alleged drunk driving crash protested the possible watering down of Leandra's Law.

They held a rally outside Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office in Downtown Manhattan.

The bill would make it a felony to drive drunk with children in the car.

The measure is stalled in Albany because the State Assembly wants accused drivers to face felony charges only if they have a blood alcohol content of point 0.18, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Leandra's Law is named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed last month in an alleged drunk driving crash.

"You know, you'd have to have an alcohol level of 0.18 to get a felony, which means you gotta drink at least 10 to 14 bottles of beer, which doesn't make sense," said Lenny Rosado, Leandra's father. "That's telling the public it's okay to have two or three drinks and still get behind the wheel."

In a statement released by his office, Silver said he is committed to passing the toughest law in the nation to crack down on drunk drivers who put children at risk.

In the crash that killed Rosado, Carmen Huertas was indicted on charges of manslaughter and drunk driving.

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