MOSTFAQABOUTANEWYORKDWI

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 AboutANewYorkDWI

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2011 Lawrence A. Newman

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Nowthatyou’vebeenarrestedforDWIyou’regoingtohavelotsofquestions.ThelawsurroundingNewYorkDWIiseverchanging.OnAugust15,2010NewYorkStateaddednewlawsandconsequencesforDWIincludingamandatoryignitioninterlockdeviceforallfirsttimeconvictions.Thesenewlawshavenotyetbeenfullyapplied,tested,andruledonbythecourts.MylegaladviceonthesemattersmaychangeastheCourtsgiveusguidanceonthesenewareasoflaw.ThefollowingarethemostfrequentlyaskedquestionsIget.

Willmylicensebesuspended?

Ifyousubmittedtoachemicaltest(thetestbackatthepolicestationoratthetrooperbarracks)ofyourblood(usuallyabreathtest),andhada.08BACormore,yourlicensewillbesuspendedatthearraignment(initialappearance).Ifyourefusedthebreathtestyourlicensewillalsobesuspendedbutyouwillbeineligibleforahardshiporconditionallicensewhileyourcaseispending.Ifyouhadavaliddriver'slicensepriortothesuspensionanddidnothaveapriorconvictionforDrivingWhileIntoxicatedorDrivingWhileAbilityImpaired,orcompletetheDrinkingDriverProgramwithintheproceedingfive(5)years,youmaybeeligibleforaconditionallicenseafterthefirst30days.TheconditionallicensewillbeissuedbytheDepartmentofMotorVehicles.

CanIgetatemporarylicenseattheinitialappearance?

Youmaybeeligibleforahardshiplicense.Atthearraignmentyourattorneycanapplyforahardshipprivilegeandpresentevidencetogetthisspecialandlimitedlicense.Tobeeligible,thecourtmustdeterminethatyouwillbesubjectto

"extremehardship"

withoutthislicense."extremehardship"isdefinedunderthelawas:...theinabilitytoobtainalternativemeansoftraveltoorfromthelicensee'semployment,ortoorfromnecessarymedicaltreatmentforthelicenseeoramemberofthelicensee'shousehold,orifthelicenseeisamatriculatingstudentenrolledinanaccreditedschool,collegeoruniversitytraveltoorfromsuchlicensee'sschool,collegeoruniversityifsuchtravelisnecessaryforthecompletionoftheeducationaldegreeorcertificate.Thislicense/privilegeisstrictlylimitedto“toandfrom”workandnot“for”work.Thisprivilegeonlyallowsthedrivertooperatetheirvehicletoandfromtheirplaceofemployment,school,ormedicalcare.Itdoes

not

allowadrivertooperateavehicleforwork.NOTE:ConditionallicensesissuedbytheDMV(nottheCourt)canbeusedFORwork.

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MOSTFAQABOUTANEWYORKDWI

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Thepolicegaveme2or3differentDWItickets(charges)whatdoesthatmean?

UnderNYSlawyoucouldbefoundguiltyofmorethanonetypeofDWIatthesametime.OneDWIisbaseduponyourmentalandphysicalbehavior,andtheothertypesofDWIarebaseduponabloodorbreathalcohollevel.Discussthesedifferentchargeswithanattorney.OnNovember1,2006,thosewithaBACof.18%orhigher,arenowfacingachargecalledAggravatedDrivingWhileIntoxicated,which,likeDrivingWhileIntoxicated,isanunclassifiedmisdemeanor.Thischargedoes,however,carrystifferfinesandharshersanctionstoyourdriverlicense.Ifyouhaveprioralcohol-relatedconvictionsyoumayalsobefacingaFelonylevelDWI.Ifyouhadaprioralcohol-relatedconvictioninothersstatethismayormaynotimpactyourcurrentcharges.Theseconvictionswillnormallyshowuponacriminalrecordcheck.

WillIhavetogetadrugandalcoholevaluation?

InNovember2006NewYorkStatemandatedalcoholevaluationsandscreeningsforDWIcasesmustbeperformedbyOASAScertifiedevaluators.OASASstandsforOfficeofAlcoholandSubstanceAbuseServices.AfteraDWIarrestyoumusthavea"screening"foralcoholabuse/dependencywithin30daysofyourinitialappearanceifyouhadaBAC(bloodalcoholconcentration)of.12orhigheronyourchemicalbreathtest.Ascreeningismerelyawrittentest.Thenextstepupintheprocesssotospeakisan"evaluation"foralcoholabuse/dependencywithin30daysoftheinitialappearanceifyouhadaBAC(bloodalcoholconcentration)of.15orhigheronyourchemicalbreathtest.Someevaluatorstakeonelongsessiontoperformanevaluation,whilesomecouldtakeuptofoursessionstomakeanevaluation.Costofthesesessionsrunsabout$80to$90persession.Soonelongevalmightcostaround$175orfourmightcostupto$400.Anevaluationisan"interview"withacounselor,andasof2011shouldincludeaurinescreenNOTE:urinetestscheckforspecificquantitiesofdrugswhileurinescreensaregenerallyverysensitiveforalldrugsorsubstances.Itisalsocommonforthecounselortoobtain"collaterals"fromyou.Acollateraliscontactinformationaboutpeoplewhoknowyouandhaveseenyourbehavior,typicallyyourdrinkingand/ordruggingbehavior.Thesepeoplewillbecontactedtoconfirmwhatyoutelltheevaluator.Intheorypeoplewithdrug/alcoholproblemslie,andthereforethesecollateralsourceswouldbeapotentialbarometerofyourtruthfulnessand/orsobriety.

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