Buffalo DWI Lawyer
Buffalo, NY DWI
New York’s drunk driving laws are multi-layered, so if you’re stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated or driving while your ability is impaired by alcohol, you may need a Buffalo DWI lawyer immediately. A lawyer can make sense of the charges against you and potentially have them downgraded to mitigate the damage to your life, depending on the circumstances of your case. New York won’t allow you to plea bargain your way out of an alcohol-related conviction in favor of a non-alcohol-related offense, but hiring an experienced Buffalo DWI lawyer might result in dismissal of your case, or could mean the difference between 30 days of community service and a year in jail.
A Buffalo DWI Attorney May be Able to Have Your Charges Reduced
A DUI means you’ve been driving under the influence of alcohol, but in New York, it’s a general term, not a legal term. Your BAC (blood alcohol content) is a pivotal factor in determining which of the three New York drunk driving offenses you might be charged with. You can be convicted of a DWI at .08 or above, but a BAC under .08 might not spare you entirely. DWAI charges, or driving while your ability is impaired, apply to BACs between .05 and .07. This means that you may have had very little to drink, but you could still need the help of a Buffalo DWI attorney. Additionally, an attorney may be successful in bargaining a .08 DWI charge down to a DWAI charge if it’s your first offense.
New York added a third tier to its drunk driving laws in 1997. If your BAC was .18 or above when you were stopped, you may, potentially, be charged with an aggravated DWI. But if this is your first brush with New York’s DUI laws, an experienced Buffalo DWI attorney can potentially have even an aggravated DWI reduced to a DWI charge, depending on how high your BAC was and whether you were involved in an accident.
A Buffalo DUI Attorney Can Make a Difference
In New York, driving while your ability is impaired by alcohol is a traffic violation, not a misdemeanor, unless it’s your third offense within 10 years. The difference may have a significant impact on the repercussions to your life. When convicted of a DWI, you have a criminal record. This can affect your employment potential and even renting a home. If convicted of a DWAI, you likely don’t have a criminal record, unless you’ve been convicted of the same charge twice before. Call a Buffalo DUI attorney immediately if your BAC is between .05 and .09. In addition to a potential criminal record, the difference between the two convictions can be as much as $200 in fines, almost a year in jail and three additional months of license suspension.
Call an Experienced Buffalo DUI Lawyer to Learn Your Options
There are ways to fight a DUI conviction. The law enforcement officer made have made a procedural error in stopping you. You can’t be sure unless you consult with an experienced Buffalo DUI attorney. Call the Law Offices of Thomas Trbovich at (716) 634-4747.. It might be the most important phone call you ever make.
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