If you were arrested and charged with a DUI in Long Island, 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.
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DWI / DWAI Lawyer - Long Island, New York

DWI / DWAI in Long Island

Under New York law, when you have been cited for violating the DWI statute, the state imposes penalties based on your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). New York uses a 2-tier system to impose DWI charges upon an offender:

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

DWAI or DWI Penalties for First Time DWAI Offenders Offenders

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

Penalties for First Time DWI Offenders

  • Jail Time - A first time DWI (DWAI) offender faces up to 1 year time in jail.
  • Monetary Fines - In Long Island, New York, fines for a first time DWI is $500 to $1,000, plus any applicable fees.
  • New York Driving Privileges and DWI / DWAI - In Long Island, New York, a first time DWI conviction results in the revocation of driving privileges in New York for a minimum of six months.
  • 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 Department Motor Vehicles in New York. 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.
  • 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.

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 options and rights. This is why an aggressive and skilled attorney can guide you through this emotionally challenging process. Please contact a New York DWI (DWAI) attorney for a consultation.