ORISKANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - The penalties for DWI in New York State just got a bit tougher Wednesday.

Governor David Paterson signed legislation Wednesday afternoon that stiffens the penalties for those convicted of DWI who have children in the car, and makes even first-time offenders use the ignition interlock program. The charges will be raised from misdemeanor to felony, and now anyone convicted of a DWI is subject to blowing in a breathalyzer before they start their car.

Michael Calengelo, the coordinator for the Oneida County Stop-DWI program calls Wednesday's bill a step in the right direction.

Calengelo also sits on the Oneida County Law Enforcement Coalition Board and said that board unanimously supported this legislation when it was first introduced.

The new law not only increases charges from a misdemeanor to a felony, but also increases prison time for those convicted and hurt a child while driving drunk. Calengelo hopes the new law will open people's eyes.

"You keep in mind that all DWI fatalities are preventable," Calengelo said. "So, it's obviously another step in the right direction to protect the general public and our children."

But not everyone believes this law is so good.

A spokesman for The American Beverage Institute, who caters to 230 restaurants and taverns in New York State, wanted a judge to determine if ignition interlock should be installed.

They say:

"This bill ignores the root cause of today's drunk driving problem - hard core alcohol abusers. The bill fails to target this dangerous population and instead will force first-time DUI offenders, even those just one sip over the legal limit, to install breathalyzers in their cars. The ignition interlock mandate should instead apply to the high-BAC and repeat-offenders who cause the vast majority of alcohol-impaired fatalities."

With the new law, New York joins 35 other states that have the special "child endangerment" laws.

As for mandatory interlock, New York now joins 12 other states with similar laws.

The new penalties for those with children in the car will take effect in 30 days, Senator Joseph Griffo's office said. The mandatory interlock portion of the law will not take effect for 270 days.