Buffalo DWI Lawyer Discusses Penalties for a DWI Conviction
As an experienced Buffalo DWI Lawyer I am often asked about the penalties for a DWI conviction. If you’re charged with DWI or DWAI in New York State, there are certain things that are going to happen to you, criminally and civilly. Criminally, it will depend on whether you’re charged with DWI or DWAI. You could end up in jail for a maximum period of one year if it’s a misdemeanor, up to several years if it’s a felony, and potentially 90 days if it’s a misdemeanor or violation. In addition to that, you could end up on probation or end up with significant fines.
As far as your license is concerned, an arraignment, which is your first appearance in court after being charged by the police, you may or may not lose your license depending on what the judge does. He shall, according to the law, suspend your license pending prosecution. However, there is something called a hardship hearing that the judge may, at his discretion, be able to issue a driver charged if the judge can find extreme hardship that that person would be under after a hearing. Certainly, you should pursue a seasoned DWI Lawyer to run any of those hearings and address those matters with the court.
Subsequently, depending on which way your case goes, either conclusion by way of plea bargain or trial, after that, the DMV steps in and determines whether or not you’re going to get a conditional license.
Have you been charged with a DWI and want to know about the possible penalties? If so, contact the experienced Buffalo DWI Lawyer John Dudziak.
This educational legal blog was brought to you by John Dudziak, an experienced Buffalo DWI Lawyer.