Leandra’s Law Arrest For Manhattan Woman

A Manhattan woman, Jayme Renee Albin, 47, was charged in Sag Harbor with a felony for allegedly driving drunk with a child in the car late Sunday morning. Police received a call September 22 that a woman had left Sag Town Coffee on Main Street in a drunken condition and gotten behind the wheel of a 2019 Land Rover at around 10:30 AM. Police quickly spotted the vehicle, which was stopped on Main Street, blocking traffic.

Albin then pulled into a parking spot by the Emporium True Value Hardware, police said, where an officer approached the car and noticed there was an infant in the back seat.

Failing sobriety tests, including what is called a pre-screen breath test, Albin was placed under arrest. Her attorney, Edward Burke Jr., said in court the next day that Albin was visiting East Hampton for the weekend. Her husband, who was also visiting at the time, was contacted by police after his wife’s arrest, and custody of the infant, under the age of two, was turned over to him. Police also contacted Suffolk County Child Protective Services.

Meanwhile, Albin allegedly refused to have blood drawn to test the level of alcohol in her system. Police then obtained a warrant from New York State Supreme Court Justice John Collins and the county medical examiner’s office sent a phlebotomy technician.

Albin was charged under New York State’s Leandra’s Law, named for Leandra Rosario, a child who died in an auto accident in 2009 that involved a drunk driver. The law makes it a felony crime to drive drunk with a child under the age of 16 in the car. The law also created one of the few situations where a warrant can be obtained by the police when an alleged drunk driver refuses to have his or her blood alcohol level tested.

Albin was transported to East Hampton Town police headquarters, where she was held overnight, then taken back to Sag Harbor to be arraigned.

Sag Harbor Justice Lisa Rana issued an order of protection for the infant, that requires Albin to refrain from any harmful behavior toward the child.

The district attorney’s office asked that bail be set at $20,000. Burke successfully argued for a lower amount, saying that he was going to be in contact with the DA’s office. Bail was set at $10,000, and posted.

t.e@indyeastend.com