Long Island, NY DWI / DUI Attorney
Patsis Law is here to assist people living in either Nassau & Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Queens & Manhattan. If you need an experienced Long Island, NY DWI lawyer, contact us discuss your legal matter.
If you are arrested for drunk driving and/or charged with a DWI, the penalties can be steep. If convicted for DWI in New York, you will face a significant fines and surcharges, in addition to license revocation, higher insurance premiums and, most importantly, possible jail time.
Long Island, New York, Suffolk County & Nassau County, DUI/DWI Lawyer George E. Patsis represents people facing the misdemeanor and felony charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI), aggravated driving while intoxicated (A-DWI), driving while ability impaired by drugs (DUI), and driving while impaired (DWAI).
Many people believe that New York DWI charges are difficult to overcome because of the evidence which the prosecution possesses in the form of a Breathalyzer or other testing procedures. However, there are many methods by which procedures and evidence obtained can be called into question, including but not limited to:
- Was there reasonable suspicion to justify the initial traffic stop?
- Did the officer properly administer the field sobriety test? (i.e., Breathalyzer)
- Was the blood test properly administered or were there issues with chain of custody of the evidence?
- Was there a probable cause for an arrest?
- Was the driver properly read their Miranda rights?
- Did the officer follow mandated policies and procedures?
DWI Penalties in New York
The penalties under the New York DWI system exist to serve as a deterrent to lessen the possibility of committing a second alcohol-related offense. The penalties become more severe with each offense. The penalties include:
- First DWI offense — Misdemeanor. $500 to $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail and a minimum six-month license revocation. (plus mandatory court surcharges and Crime Victims’ Fee)
- Second DWI offense within 10 years — Felony.$1,000 to $5,000 fine, up to four years in jail and minimum one-year license revocation. (plus mandatory court surcharges and Crime Victims’ Fee)
- Third DWI offense within 10 years — Felony. $2,000 to $10,000 fine, up to seven years in jail and minimum one-year license revocation. (plus mandatory court surcharges and Crime Victims’ Fee)
You should be aware that the penalties for a second and third DWI are even more serious if the convictions happen within five years of the first offense, and assuming there was no crash, no injuries and no fatalities. In these instances, an experienced NY DWI defense lawyer who is prepared to fight for you and defend your DWI case should be contacted.
Felony DWI Charges
Please be aware that if you are charged with a second or third DWI within 10 years of a misdemeanor DWI, you face felony drunk driving charges.
Further, since the enactment of Leandra’s Law in 2009, the act of driving while intoxicated with a person age 15 or younger in the vehicle is an automatic felony. If convicted under this new law, individuals face a prison sentence up to four years and a mandatory fine of $1,000-$5,000. All people convicted of a DWI (including first-time offenders) now must install an ignition interlock device. This mandatory piece of equipment will need to be installed in your vehicle for at least six months, your license could be revoked for six months to year depending on what you plead to, and your name will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
Long Island Drug DUI Lawyer
Please be aware that driving while under the influence of illegal or legal drugs can result in fines, probation and jail time. Remember that a person can be convicted of a DWI or DUI even if the consumption of a legal drug, such as allergy or pain medication, results in impairment. It is important that you have a Long Island DUI lawyer with the experience in the field and the Court system to get the best possible results for you.
The penalties for DUI are severe, and can include fines, license revocation, probation, and possible jail time. You need a Long Island DUI defense attorney such as the Law Offices of Michael W. Alpert, Esq. to defend you when you face these serious charges by contacting me at malpert@alpertlegal.com or by calling (516) 280-7288. A Suffolk County/Nassau County DUI attorney is available 24 hours a days/7 days a week to assist you with your DWI or DUI matter.
Refusal Hearings, Nassau and Suffolk County
It is very important for you to understand that if you failed a breath, blood or urine test during an arrest for drunk driving in Nassau or Suffolk County, your license will be suspended at arraignment (as long as the court has a BAC reading). If you refused to submit to a test for BAC or drugs, the State of New York will initiate a proceeding to suspend your license through the Department of Motor Vehicles, a matter which is separate from the underlying criminal proceeding.
A refusal hearing must be scheduled within fifteen (15) days of your arraignment. You will be given a date for the refusal hearing, where you can challenge the case and attempt to keep your driving privileges. It is crucial that you and your New York DWI/DUI attorney appear at the refusal hearing, otherwise your license will automatically be revoked for one year, and you will not be eligible for receipt of a conditional license to drive to and from work and home (or home and school).
Conditional License
After the arraignment, you may be eligible for a conditional license. The judge has the option of suspending your NY license pursuant to VTL 510(3), which means based upon the initial facts of your case, you will not be eligible to obtain a conditional license. The only person who can lift this discretionary suspension is the issuing judge. A hardship license may be available to you during the first 30 days after arraignment if you can show that there is an undue hardship and you have no other reasonable method to get to and from work or school.
Please contact an experienced Long Island, NY DWI Lawyer at the Law Offices of Patsis Law to help you get your conditional license. We can help.