On Wednesday, September 10, at 8 PM, village residents are invited to attend a presentation by Judge Fran Ricigliano at the Garden City Senior Recreation Center. Judge Ricigliano has served on the District Court Bench since his first appointment in 1998. A graduate of St. John's University School of Law, Judge Ricigliano is presently the Presiding Judge of the District Court's new "DWI Part", where all private attorney Driving While Intoxicated misdemeanor cases are initially litigated in one courtroom, before one Judge.

"Judge Ricigliano is a much sought after lecturer on the dangers of Drinking and Driving for the Nassau Court System as well as the Nassau County Bar Association, so we are most fortunate to have him join us this evening," remarked State Senator Kemp Hannon. "Twelve years ago New York became the 33rd state to adopt a "zero tolerance" law (VTL sec.1192a) targeting our youngest of drivers by making it unlawful for drivers under age 21 to operate vehicles with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. New York has seen a steady decline in Drinking and Driving as well as dramatic reductions in alcohol-related fatalities because we continue to make great strides with programs like STOP-DWI as well as attempting to address those who pose a serious threat20to highway safety - the repeat offender," Hannon continued. I look forward to Judge Ricigliano's informative talk and would urge parents to invite their teenage drivers to join us as well," Hannon commented.

According to a report released to Congress this summer by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20 - year-olds. In 2006, 3,490 drivers in this age group died and an additional 272,000 were injured in car crashes. While only 6.3% of the population are young drivers, it is this same population that had the highest fatal crash involvement rate which is more than double the rate for any age group 35 and older. Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt remarked, "In New York we have consistently tried to make laws that allow for the application of swift and certain penalties that restrict the offender from driving, punish the offense, and rehabilitate the offender. Further, we strive to make it much easier to allow for the prosecution of drunk drivers who injure or kill someone while drunk driving, for that I have zero tolerance."

Residents are welcome to join the Garden City Republican Club to hear Judge Ricigliano Wednesday, September 10, beginning at 8 PM at the Garden City Senior Recreation Center, corner of Golf Club Lane and Eleventh Street. Judge Ricigliano is also the author of numerous published legal decisions and articles and has served as a Special Professor of Law at C.W. Post College, St. John's University and Hofstra University School of Law. A Garden City resident, Judge Ricigliano has served as a parent member on the Garden City Committee on Pre-School Special Education and the Genesis Advisory Board for Autistic Children. Refreshments will be served and anyone wishing additional information is welcome to call Jackie at 818-3980 or call the Garden City Campaign Headquarters at 606-5231.