DWI and NY Regents exam cancellation
The state Regents canceled the U.S. History and Government exam. Credit: Heather Walsh
If convicted of DWI, lose license forever
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder’s stated intention to start an initiative to take back our roads by writing more summonses and setting up more DWI roadblocks is the same old song ["Cops ID 3 killed in crash," News, May 24]. It won’t work without legislation. What we need is a national executive order that if you are convicted of drunken driving, you forever forfeit your privilege of operating a motor vehicle. You do not get another chance to possibly kill again.
A national proclamation would put everyone on notice that the penalty for driving drunk is not worth the risk. In addition, breathalyzer tests for all patrons leaving an establishment serving alcohol must be mandated. If this is viewed by some as an inconvenience, that’s too bad. Since maximum blood alcohol content is not attained immediately after drinking, persons intending to drive home with a certain amount should not be permitted to do so. We do not want these drunks on our roads. A similar executive order should be handed down for those similarly impaired by marijuana.
Michael Brozinsky, Central Islip
Regents exams a waste of time and money
The state Regents canceled the U.S. History and Government exam because high school students might see upsetting material that may traumatize them because of the Buffalo mass shooting ["Exam gets canceled," News, May 25]. Why are we still requiring Regents exams? During the pandemic, they were canceled. Did that prevent any state student from attending a state college? No. Any student in New York can attend any college outside New York with no need for these exams. Students who attend New York colleges from out of state do not need Regents credits. Are they any smarter or better prepared than New York students? Do these tests determine how successful students will be in college? Why not let teachers teach course material and not how to take a Regents exam? We are taking away precious instructional time. and wasting educational funds.
Lorraine Mastracchio, Medford
The writer is a retired college professor.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Email your opinion on the issues of the day to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone numbers and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.
