WAPPINGER, N.Y. — A Wappinger DWI arrest has led to a felony Leandra’s Law charge after New York State Police said a 6-year-old child was riding in the vehicle when troopers stopped a LaGrange woman on New Hackensack Road. The LaGrange Woman Charged Under Leandra’s Law in DWI Incident has raised concerns in the community.
State Police said the traffic stop happened at about 8:16 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2026, as the vehicle traveled eastbound in the Town of Wappinger. Troopers identified the driver as Gianna Fantina-Santana, 43, of LaGrange. Police said she showed signs of intoxication during the stop and was given standardized field sobriety tests.
This incident involving a LaGrange Woman Charged Under Leandra’s Law in DWI Incident highlights the serious implications of driving while intoxicated, especially with a child in the vehicle.
Investigators then learned that a 6-year-old child was a passenger in the vehicle, according to the State Police release. Fantina-Santana was taken to the State Police barracks in Wappinger for processing, where police said a chemical breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%.
The child was released safely to a sober third party, State Police said.
Charges filed after Wappinger DWI arrest
State Police said Fantina-Santana was charged with the following:
- Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger under Leandra’s Law, a Class E felony.
- Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.
- Operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more, first offense, an unclassified misdemeanor.
The charges are accusations. Fantina-Santana is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
State Police said she was issued traffic tickets directing her to appear in Town of Wappinger Court on Oct. 20, 2026, at 5 p.m.
What is Leandra’s Law?
Leandra’s Law is New York’s tougher DWI law for cases involving young passengers. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says the law created a Class E felony for operating a vehicle while intoxicated or drug-impaired when a child age 15 or younger is in the vehicle.
The DMV summarizes the rule this way: “no person shall operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs” with a child age 15 or younger as a passenger.
The law was enacted after the 2009 death of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a crash while riding in a vehicle driven by an allegedly intoxicated adult. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services says the law took effect on Dec. 18, 2009.
Under New York law, a first-time offender accused of driving while intoxicated or drug-impaired with a child younger than 16 in the vehicle may face a Class E felony. A conviction can carry significant criminal penalties, and DWI convictions can also trigger ignition-interlock requirements.
Why the child-passenger provision matters
Driving while impaired puts everyone on the road at risk, but a child passenger has little or no control over the situation. That is the reason Leandra’s Law treats these cases more seriously than an ordinary first-offense DWI allegation.
The law is intended to create an added layer of accountability when an adult’s alleged impaired driving places a child in danger. It also sends a clear message that choosing a sober driver is not simply a personal safety decision when children are involved.
New York’s 0.08% threshold
New York generally treats a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher as the threshold for an alcohol-based DWI charge for most drivers. In this Wappinger case, State Police reported a BAC of 0.10%, which is above that threshold.
A BAC result alone does not decide a criminal case. Prosecutors still must prove the charged offenses in court, and defendants have the right to challenge the evidence against them. Police reports describe the allegations at the time of arrest and should not be read as a finding of guilt.
What happens next
Fantina-Santana is scheduled to answer the charges in Town of Wappinger Court on Oct. 20. The State Police release did not announce a conviction or final disposition.
For readers, the larger takeaway is straightforward: New York treats impaired driving with a child passenger as a serious felony matter. Adults who plan to drink should arrange a sober driver, use a taxi or rideshare service, or make other transportation plans before getting behind the wheel.
Sources
- New York State Police: Wappinger Traffic Stop Leads to Leandra’s Law DWI Arrest
- New York State DMV: Leandra’s Law & Ignition Interlock Devices
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services: DWI and Leandra’s Law FAQ
Call to action: Never drive impaired, and never place a child in a vehicle with an impaired driver. Plan a safe ride before drinking.
