“Over the Limit – Under Arrest” is a nationwide 18-day campaign to prevent drunk driving starting on August 20th and continuing through Labor Day, September 6th.  New York and many other states are participating in the campaign which requires everyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony drunk driving charge to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle at their own expense.  The campaign includes first-time offenders.

John F. Sullivan, president of the New York state STOP-DWI Association, Inc., said, “Highly visible enforcement efforts are an effective deterrent and a reminder that DWI is a priority among New York police agencies.  Our goal is to make the Labor Day holiday period a safe and enjoyable one for all New Yorkers”.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of  an alcohol-related car accident, contact the Brooklyn car accident lawyers of Parker Waichman LLP at 1-888-244-2273 to learn more about your rights.

The auto club, AAA, recently released the results of a survey they completed on driving with dogs in the car.  According to the survey, 60 percent of dog owners have driven with their dog in the car.  Also, only 17 percent of those who have driven with their dog in the car say they have used animal restraints.  Furthermore, 21 percent of dog owners admitted to driving with their dog in their lap.

59 percent of participants admitted to performing distracting behavior with their dog in the car, including, petting, giving the dog food or water, and playing with their dog.  AAA warns that driving with a dog in the car can be as distracting and dangerous as texting while driving.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that if you need to drive with your dog in the car, always keep the dog in the back seat and use animal restraints.  Animal safety restraints are available in most pet stores.  Unrestrained pets in the front seat or in a driver’s lap not only endangers the driver, the animal, and passengers, but other drivers on the road.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Brooklyn car accident lawyers of Parker Waichman LLP at 1-888-244-2273 to learn more about your rights.

A Brooklyn police officer who was left in a coma after a car accident has returned to work.

According to officials with the New York City Police Department, 31 year-old Carlos Olmedo received a warm welcome at his Brooklyn precinct today. “I’m feeling much better,” Oldmedo said. “I was in a bad accident and thank God I restored my strength.”

Oldmedo was seriously injured when he was struck by a motorcycle in the Bensonhust section of Brooklyn. Police say Olmedo was on patrol at 20th Avenue and 84th St. shortly after 1:00 a.m. May 17 when he spotted four men in a stolen car. As the suspects fled the scene, Olmedo ran after them and he was hit by a motorcycle traveling southbound on 20th Ave.

Investigators deemed the crash an accident and the motorcycle driver was not charged.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Brooklyn car accident lawyers of Parker Waichman, LLP at 1-888-244-2273 to learn more about your rights.

All marked NYPD police vehicles will soon be outfitted with LED message board displays just under the car’s police lights.  LED message boards use blue light to display a streaming message which can be easily read from a distance.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly stated that the message boards will have a standard 50 messages related to general accident or traffic issues that can be controlled from the car.  In the future, they hope to be able to control messages from a central command center, as well as be able to expand the types of messages to include things like missing child descriptions.

So far, ten vehicles have had the LED message boards installed in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the Brooklyn car accident lawyers of Parker Waichman LLP at 1-888-244-2273 to learn more about your rights.