If you’re like a lot of our readers who have received a DWI in their lifetime, you probably don’t want to incur another drunk-driving conviction. That’s because you likely know that multiple DWI convictions can escalate penalties and can even lead to time in a state prison. Most people want to avoid this negative outcome, which oftentimes means learning as much as they can about the law so that they don’t violate it down the road.
In order to understand the law better, most people look on the Internet for answers or ask a lawyer for help. In today’s post, we’d like to do both and answer the question we pose in our post title: when does a DWI become a felony DWI?
Here in New York, much as is the case in other states, any subsequent DWI convictions that happen within 10 years of a first conviction automatically become a felony. With felonies, fines are oftentimes considerably steeper and jail time is also significantly longer than what would be sentenced for a first-time offender.
So how do you avoid the problems associated with facing a felony DWI?
The best solution is to avoid drinking and driving at all costs. Asking a friend to be your sober cab or having a taxi service on speed dial are two great ways many people here in Poughkeepsie have avoided getting second, third or fourth DWIs.
It’s also a good idea to talk to a skilled lawyer who has significant experience handling drunk-driving cases. Here at Glenn R. Bruno, Esq. we offer this level of experience to all of our clients and work hard to make sure that we are giving you the best possible outcome for your case.
