Father Arrested Under Leandra's Law in North Hills

A Queens man is charged with felony DWI under Leandra’s Law after police say he drove drunk with his two children in the car on the Long Island Expressway service road in North Hills early Saturday, authorities said.

Nassau County Police say a patrol officer observed Vincent Gagliardi, 41, of Little Neck, driving above the speed limit heading west at 12:55 a.m. on the LIE‘s North Service Road. The officer pulled over Gagliardi’s car at Searingtown Road and discovered Gagliardi’s two sons, ages 12 and 5, in the car.

Police determined Gagliardi was under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest without incident. The children were released from the scene to a family member, police said.

Gagliardi is charged with two counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated (Leandra’s Law), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, and vehicle and traffic violations.

Gagliardi was scheduled for arraignment on Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead.