Police throughout New York are always on the lookout for suspected drunk driving. That diligence is even higher during any given holiday of the year, and with Memorial Day being the kickoff to a summer long awaited after a hard cold winter, law enforcement may be particularly watchful this weekend.
Memorial Day is a time the country has set aside to remember those who have given their lives in military service to the nation. But considering its location in the calendar, it might also be worthwhile to recall how costly a charge and conviction for driving while intoxicated can be.
Every state’s laws are different and they can change from year to year. Most people probably don’t have keeping track of the changes high on their priority lists. That can leave them at a distinct disadvantage if they get caught up unexpectedly in the legal system.
So what might a DWI conviction cost? Materials available from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles offer the answer.
Someone convicted of aggravated DWI for the first time could face a mandatory fine of up to $2,500, receive a jail term of one year and suffer a revocation of license for at least 12 months. The fines, jail terms and license revocation periods increase with each subsequent conviction over a 10-year time span. In the case of a third aggravated DWI conviction in 10 years, the fine can be $10,000 and incarceration can be for as long as seven years.
With stakes being so high, anyone wondering how to obtain the optimal outcome and seeking to protect their rights when confronted with such charges should be working with an attorney.
Source: New York Department of Motor Vehicles, “Penalties for alcohol or drug-related violations,” accessed May 23, 2014
