Long Island is the most heavily populated island in the country, and its roads are filled with motorists each and every day. Of course, sometimes those motorists may end up on the wrong side of the law. When it comes to driving offenses, few things are as serious as a DWI. If you’ve been charged with a DWI, you’ll need to get a good lawyer to help defend you. However, before you even hire a lawyer it’s important that you take the time to understand a few different things about it. Here are three of the big things you’ll want to keep in mind.
- First, it’s important to understand what the offenses are punishable by. If it’s your first offense, charges include up to one year of jail time, a fine of up to 1,000 dollars, and a minimum of six months suspension for your license. Subsequent offenses can lead to much stiffer penalties, culminating with as much as 7 years in jail for a third offense.
- It’s also worth understanding that the Blood Alcohol Content levels for DWI charges depend on various factors. For example, those under 21 years of age have a .02% legal limit. Those who are 21 and older have a .08% limit, and commercial drivers have a .04% limit. Knowing the limits is important for understanding your situation and your rights.
- Finally, it’s important to understand that the specifics of your verdict will depend on a wide range of factors including implied consent, BAC levels, and even your actions after being charged. There’s no simple rule that applies to every situation. As such, it’s important to know your rights and learn more about them.
In general, the best defense you can have against heavier penalties is simply to do nothing until you speak to an experienced attorney. A good lawyer will review your situation, explain your options to you, and help you determine what the right course of action is.
The smartest thing you can do is to speak to an attorney as soon as you’re charged with a DWI. Even making one wrong statement to the authorities could lead to additional charges or a worse outcome for you. While every case is different and it’s impossible to make a prediction as to what will happen with your case, the one constant is that talking to a lawyer is always the best step you can take for yourself.