In the state of New York, DWI offenses add up, with the penalty for each additional incident resulting in increased penalties. Felony drunk driving charges are the result of receiving a second DWI charge after being previously convicted of a drunk driving offense within the last 10 years. As a felony, a charge can carry larger fines, increased time behind bars and possible license revocation, penalties that one Scarsdale resident now faces due to a recent late-night accident.
The 32-year-old Scarsdale man was driving down the 1400 block of Main Street in Peekskill on Dec. 16 at about 1 a.m. when he reportedly hit five parked cars with his tow truck. He was treated at Hudson Valley Hospital Center for minor injuries before being released into police custody and charged with felony driving while intoxicated along with aggravated unlicensed operation. The second charge typically results when an individual has 10 or more license suspensions due to a failure to deal with an earlier charge in court.
The man refused to take a blood alcohol test and was arraigned in Peekskill court on the charges and will have to appear before the same court for a hearing.
New York residents have the right to present strong defenses to DWI charges in a court of law. This defense can take place during a trial or can include a plea bargain intended to reduce the charges.
Source: Scarsdale Patch, “Scarsdale Man Facing Felony DWI After Peekskill Crash,” Rasheed Oluwa, Dec. 21, 2012
