Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and driving while impaired by drugs or narcotics, are both illegal everywhere. But in New York State, look out! Penalties get stiffer the more convictions you accumulate.
One Port Chester, New York, man recently found this out the hard way. After numerous arrests and convictions in the Tristate Region, he wound up yet again in a Greenwich, Connecticut court – and this time, the judge threw the book at him. He will spend his next 25 months in prison.
It could happen here. Like most states, New York has “graduated” sentencing, which means that jail time and fines get bigger with each repeat conviction for the same offense. If you are convicted more than once on drunk driving charge, here is what you can expect.
|
Conviction |
Sentence |
|
First DWI conviction |
$500 – $1,000 plus fees and assessments. A first DWI conviction can carry a sentence of up to one year in the County Jail. |
|
Second DWI conviction in 10 years |
$1,000 – $5,000 plus fees and assessments. |
|
Third DWI conviction in 10 years |
Fines up to $10,000. A third DWI conviction in 10 years can carry up to a maximum indeterminate sentence of two and one-third years to seven years in State Prison. |
In cases where injury results, additional fines and prison terms can be expected.
If you are pulled over and charged with DWI (or a DUI in another state), however, don’t simply assume that you will be convicted. Circumstances may weigh heavily in the judge’s deliberations, such as arrest procedures, lack of a search warrant for a blood test, the training and qualifications of the person administering the test, the use of whole-blood serum, and a lack of probable cause for arrest.
Many defenses are available to those arrested on a DWI charge. If you are involved in such an incident, call a criminal defense lawyer with experience in this area.
In New York State, each time you are charged with a DWI, the penalties get worse. Learn about the penalties. This article is brought to you by Larkin Ingrassia, PLLC.