Rudolph Giuliani

About the author: Rudolph Giuliani is the mayor of New York City.

In response to the declining but still unacceptable number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurring in New York City and its surrounding metropolitan area, the New York City Police Department initiated the policy of confiscating the cars of those arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in February 1999. This policy not only takes lethal weapons off the road, it also works as a highly effective deterrent against potential drunk drivers, making them think long and hard about risking the loss of their motor vehicle if stopped by the police. The policy is intended to stop firsttime offenders, who cause the majority of DWI fatalities nationwide, in addition to the chronic drunk drivers who routinely put the lives of others at...