NY DWI Defense Lawyers

Taking Misdemeanor Drunk Driving Charges Seriously

A misdemeanor DWI charge is a serious criminal accusation that can have major consequences if you are convicted. A good DWI lawyer in New York will carefully explore all potential options for avoiding or reducing these consequences in your case.

At Anelli Xavier, PC, our lawyers are skilled in drunk driving defense. No matter where you are charged in New York State, we are confident our firm will give you the best possible outcome due to our extensive training and sole focus on DWI Defense. Contact us today to discuss your options with a knowledgeable DWI attorney.

What Makes a DWI Charge a Misdemeanor?

In New York, you can be charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) if there is evidence that you had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .08. Your DWI charge will be considered a misdemeanor offense if and only if one of the following is true.

• You are being charged with DWI for the first time.
• You have not been convicted of DWI in the last 10 years.
• You have a previous alcohol-related conviction that was not a DWI.

A misdemeanor may sound like a relatively minor crime, but the legal definition of a misdemeanor is a crime that can be punished with a jail or prison sentence of up to a year. Spending a year in jail is obviously not a minor penalty.

Even if you are not sentenced to jail time for a misdemeanor DWI conviction, you can still be fined between $500 and $1000 and lose your driver's license for six months. These penalties will be greater if your charge is aggravated. You will also have a permanent criminal record.

If you've been charged with a misdemeanor DWI offense in New York, don't hesitate to contact us to get an experienced drunk driving defense attorney working on your case.