A 53-year-old man in Bronxville, New York ran a red light at the White Plains Road and Pondfield Road intersection. Police took the man’s blood alcohol content level and say that it was double the legal limit of 0.08.
Police charged the man with two counts of driving while intoxicated as well as driving through a red light. His car was impounded, and he was arraigned on the charges and released on a $500 bond. He is due back in court to face his drunk driving charges.
DWI convictions in the state of New York carry strict penalties. People convicted of DWIs in New York can expect to face consequences such as fines, fees, probation, community service and even imprisonment. Additionally, they may have to deal with increased insurance rates as well as civil lawsuits, especially if anyone was injured or died as a result of the DWI incident.
The penalties for DWIs can vary based upon numerous factors, such as the elements surrounding the incident, whether anyone was harmed or died as a result of the incident, whether or not there was property damage and the accused driver’s previous driving record. For example, the consequences for a driver who already has a DWI conviction are more severe than those for a first time offender. Additionally, a DWI charge may be considered a felony such as vehicular homicide if someone dies in the incident.
For people facing DWI charges, it may be wise to consult a lawyer who can help get charges dropped or reduced. For example, a skilled DWI lawyer can sometimes convince the prosecution that enrolling the accused in an alcohol treatment program would be more effective that imposing a long jail sentence.
Source: Bronxville-Eastchester Patch, “Police: Drunk Driver”, Chris McHugh, April 30, 2013
