If you were arrested and charged with a DUI in Ithaca, Newyork or a neighboring City, please call the 1-800 number below to get in contact with an experienced DUI attorney to fight your case.
1-800-420-9444 or

Ithaca, New York DWI / DWAI Criminal Defense Lawyer

Arrested for DWI / DWAI in Ithaca, New York?

Pursuant to New York law, when you have been cited for violating the DWI or DWAI statute, New York imposes penalties based on your blood alcohol content (BAC). There is a 2-tier system to impose DWI charges:

  1. Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI): BAC between 0.05% and 0.08%
  2. Driving While Intoxicated: BAC of 0.08% or greater

DWI or DWAI Penalties for First Time DWAI Offenders Offenders

  • Monetary Fines - In Ithaca, New York, fines for a first time DWI / DWAI are $300 to $500.
  • New York Driving Privileges and DWI / DWAI - In Ithaca, New York, a first time DWAI or DWI conviction results in the revocation of driving privileges for 90 days.
  • Jail Time - A first time DWAI (DWI) offender faces up to 15 days imprisonment. The court may order alcohol treatment in lieu of jail time.

Penalties for First Time DWI Offenders

  • New York Driving Privileges and DWI / DWAI - In Ithaca, New York, a first time DWI conviction results in the revocation of New York driving privileges for a minimum of six months.
  • Commercial Drivers - Commercial drivers are in violation of the DWI / DWAI statute with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of 0.04. A first time DWI / DWAI conviction will result in the loss of the commercial driver's license for 1 year, while any subsequent DWI / DWAI offenses will result in a lifetime loss of the commercial license in New York.
  • Jail Time - A first time DWAI (DWI) offender faces up to 1 year imprisonment.
  • Monetary Fines - In Ithaca, New York, fines for a first time DWI is $500 to $1,000, plus any applicable fees.
  • Breath Test Refusal - Refusing to submit to a test when requested by law enforcement will result in the suspension of driving privileges for 1 year and a fine of $500.00. Pursuant to New York law, after refusal to submit to a chemical test, an individual has 15 days to request a hearing from the New York Department Motor Vehicles. If you fail to request a hearing within 15 days, your right to the hearing is lost, and your license is automatically suspended for the applicable statutory time frame. In order to preserve your right to an Administrative Hearing, it is crucial that you submit your request to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 15 days.

DWI / DWAI Subsequent Offenses

Penalties are increasingly more severe for any additional DWI / DWAI violations. Due to the complexity of DWI / DWAI laws in New York, you may not be aware of rights and options. This is why a capable and knowledgeable defense lawyer can guide you through this emotionally challenging process. Please contact a New York DWAI (DWI) defense lawyer for a quick and easy consultation.