Experienced Spring Valley Drunk Driving Lawyer
If you have been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), your first impulse may be to pay the fine, plead guilty and try to forget about it. Many people do this because they think it will be the end of the problem. Others plead guilty because they failed the breath test and don't think the charges can be fought. However, pleading guilty is the same as being convicted of DWI. You will face the same penalties and will have a criminal record that can have a negative effect on your future.
You may benefit from fighting the charge instead, even if you failed the Intoxilyzer or roadside tests. At the Law Office of Reuven J. Epstein, I help people contest DWI charges. I provide aggressive, cost-effective and personal service for DWI defense.
Worried about losing your driver's license after a DWI arrest? I will do everything possible to help you protect it. For a free consultation with a Rockland County DUI defense lawyer, please call 845-694-4522 or contact me online.
New York DWI Penalties
As an experienced DWI defense attorney, I understand the stakes my clients face when arrested for drunk driving and the serious need they have to avoid or minimize such consequences. If charged with drunk driving in New York, you could face the following penalties, if convicted:
- First-offense DWI: A first-offense DWI conviction can result in a license revocation for six months, up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Repeat DWI convictions and aggravated DWI (DWI with a high-BAC) have much steeper penalties. Additionally, DWI convictions remain on your record indefinitely, causing your auto insurance rates to rise.
- DWI with a minor in the vehicle: The Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra's Law, makes it a felony in New York to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a child under age 16 in the car. The penalties for this charge are harsh and include automatic license suspension, fines, jail time and the installation of an ignition interlock device.
- Breath test refusal: If you are pulled over for drunk driving and you refuse the Breathalyzer test, your license will automatically be suspended, regardless of the outcome of your criminal DWI case. Additionally, you will be assessed a fine and may be subject to lose your license for up to one year and to pay an annual driver responsibility fee for three years.
In the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL), drunk driving laws are contained within VTL 1192. (Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs)
Fight DWI/DUI Charges. Contact a Spring Valley Defense Lawyer.
I understand that it can be embarrassing to appear in a local court to answer DWI charges. I work hard to negotiate with prosecutors to reduce charges when possible. I know how to fight questionable evidence and work diligently to minimize the collateral impact of your DWI arrest. Additionally, if you need a hardship license to drive to work or school, I can help you.
Please call my office at 845-694-4522 or contact me online to schedule an appointment.
