A charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI) is incredibly serious. You face a wide range of consequences that can greatly impact your life. Your employment, driving privileges and finances are all at stake.
Immediately retaining a knowledgeable and experienced attorney is crucial to navigating the processes and the potential pitfalls that lie ahead. At Rosenthal Kooshoian & Lennon, LLP, our Buffalo criminal defense team includes attorneys who are former prosecutors. They have handled thousands of drunk and drugged driving cases throughout western New York.
There are many questions and issues surrounding each and every DWI charge. A few examples include:
A variety of these factors will impact your criminal defense case. It is important to know what your responsibilities are moving through the case to achieve the most favorable result and minimize the potential consequences.
With our considerable experience in DWI defense, we have heard a vast spectrum of questions from our clients. To help you as you read about DWI, we have answered a few of these questions in the following segment.
Although driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) are often used interchangeably, New York State only recognizes DWI. That is what the state calls the charge for driving with a BAC higher than .08.
A lesser charge than DWI is driving while ability impaired, or DWAI. Even if your BAC is lower than .08, you could receive a DWAI charge for driving with poor reaction time, delayed motor skills or impaired coordination. Unlike DWI, DWAI is merely a traffic violation, not a criminal offense. The penalties for DWAI are substantially lighter than for DWI, so our DWAI lawyers often try to negotiate a plea bargain for our clients.
The criminal justice system is much harder on offenders with a DWI in their past. A second charge is a Class E felony that could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to four years in jail. The court could also suspend your driver’s license for up to four years. The consequences get even more severe with every subsequent DWI.
Our state does not allow you to expunge a DWI conviction. However, if you only have an arrest and a charge, you can. You can also expunge your record if you went to trial but the judge dismissed your charge or the jury acquitted you.
Our drunk driving defense attorneys provide clients with all the necessary information to make good choices in the defense of their charges. At the inception of a DWI case, we fight to the fullest extent of the law to maintain your driving privileges. We advise you on what, if any, drug or alcohol counseling may be involved, your likelihood of reducing your sentence via plea, the range of fines and penalties, and whether you may drive after a conviction or whether you will have your license suspended.
We understand that you have responsibilities with your job, family and children, and that the prospect of being unable to drive causes great stress and anxiety. Please call us today at 716-854-1300 or send us an email so that you can arm yourself with both the knowledge and representation you need under your specific circumstances. Schedule your free consultation today.
Our results are driven by personalized strategies that are hand-crafted to fit your needs.
You’re not just a client to us. You are our partner, and we would be honored to make you our next success story.
As former prosecutors and experienced attorneys, we can anticipate how your case will be handled by the other side and tactics insurance companies will use.