A resident of Westchester was recently arrested in Croton-on-Hudson and charged with a felony due to his second DWI in the past decade. According to authorities with the New York State Police, the 42-year-old man was arrested at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Feb. 9.
According to police, the man was operating a 2017 Dodge Challenger on Route 9. Officers reportedly observed the man make a traffic violation and subsequently pulled him over. The officers made contact and suspected that the man was under the influence of alcohol although it was not reported why they suspected him to be impaired. The man was taken into custody, and investigation into the defendant later determined that he had a previous DWI conviction.
Because of the prior DWI conviction, the man was charged with felony DWI. He also was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle due to his driving without a license while intoxicated. The man was later arraigned where the court remanded him to jail without bail to await a court date.
The consequences for driving under the influence in New York are severe for a first-time offender. Those consequences can be far graver in cases where a driver has a previous conviction. An attorney with experience in criminal defense law may be able to help someone accused of drunk driving navigate the process. An attorney who is familiar with what kind of punishment might be handed down by the court may use their experience to help negotiate a plea bargain on behalf of their client. In some instances, an attorney may be able to fight for their client’s innocence by calling into question police evidence and how it was gathered.
