Charged with DWI in NY – Now What?
If you have recently been charged with a DWI you are probably quite concerned about how this is going to affect you, and the rest of your life. You should be. A DWI conviction on your record may stay there for your entire life. It may affect your ability to get certain types of jobs or professional licenses. The additional insurance costs alone will be a significant increase over previously paid premiums. Additionally, in NY a DWI charge is a jailable crime. The fines, penalties, and jail time increase with each conviction.
OK, so you got charged with a DWI, so now what?
The first thing to do is call an experienced DWI Lawyer immediately. This is not a time that you can afford bad advice. Your second cousin who is a real-estate attorney is not what you need right now. You need an attorney that is familiar with the DWI laws, all the possible defenses, and the courts in which you will be appearing. This person should be willing to sit down with you, explain your rights, answer your questions, and work with you to find the best possible defense for your situation. Be sure you are speaking with an experienced DWI attorney, and not an assistant or a call-screener. Your attorney should be accessible to you throughout your case, and keep you informed of any changes or decisions as they occur.
The urgency is speaking with a qualified attorney immediately is the help with a hardship license application which must be done at the first appearance (arraignment). Discovery motions should also be done within 45 of arraignment. These things sometimes make all the difference in the outcome of a case, or if the prosecution even has a case at all. A little over a month is not much time to find an attorney, meet with the attorney, have the attorney research, write and file any possible motions. Lastly, if you are ticketed for refusing the breathalyzer, the DMV will schedule a hearing within a couple of weeks and you need a lawyer at that hearing to protect your right. If you are not successful at that hearing, the DMV suspends your drivers license for 1 year regardless of the outcome of your case.
Important information you want to convey to your attorney to assist them in putting together the best possible defense for you is:
- The circumstances surrounding the stop of the vehicle. Why did they pull you over in the first place? At what time?
- The circumstances that led the officer to believe that you may be intoxicated
- Who was in the vehicle with you? According to Leandra’s Law, if driving while intoxicated with a person under the age of 15 in the vehicle, your charge is a felony. Even if it’s your first offense.
- What is your driving history?
- Was there an accident involved in your charges?
- Did you have a breathalyzer test or a blood test taken? At what time?
- What other Field Sobriety tests were performed, and the time frame in which they occurred.
- Were there any other witnesses?
- The time frame in which the entire incident occurred from initial stop to Miranda rights, and arrest.
If you have been charged with ANY driving while intoxicated, DWI or DWAI offense in NYS, you can talk with an attorney in our office for a consultation for FREE. Don’t hesitate to call us at 315-701-2939 or find us on the web at bestsyracuselawyers.com for a free initial consultation.
This Blog/Web Site is made available by the publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog/Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
