ALBANY, NY – New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky has introduced a bill that would make drowsy driving illegal. A recent poll of American drivers showed that 37 percent admit they’ve nodded off while driving. The bill would impose a penalty fine of $500 for first offenders. Subsequent offenses would carry a $1,000 fine along with a six-month license suspension.

Critics of the bill, however, argue that such a law would be difficult to enforce. Drowsiness isn’t as easy to prove as drunkenness. Another version of the bill was introduced two years ago, but didn’t survive long enough to make it to a floor vote in either the Assembly or Senate.

Drowsy drivers kill about 1,500 Americans each year and cause more than 71,000 injuries, according to a report from CBS. In New York alone, drowsy driving is responsible for about 30 percent of all fatalities.