New York Ranks No. 30 of all States for Tough Stance on Drunk Driving
Of the 51 contenders for toughest state on DWI/DUI (Washington DC was included in the calculation), New York falls in the middle of the pack, according to a recent survey released by WalletHub. But, make no mistake about it; New York’s DWI laws are quite harsh. If you get stopped and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in New York, you will be facing stiff fines, points on your license, insurance premium hikes, license suspension and even jail time.
It’s no secret that drunk driving is the cause of many vehicular deaths across the country every single year. In fact, according to statistics revealed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2012, 31 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involved drunk driving. This number may seem unreasonably high, but this statistic is actual down from more than 50 percent in the past 20 years.
Social attitudes toward drunk driving is likely a major reason for the decrease in DWI deaths. However, another major reason these figures are down is because states, like New York, have enacted severe penalties for driving while intoxicated. Half the states in the US require convicted drunk drivers to install an ignition interlock device in cars they drive. In New York, for example, anyone convicted of drunk driving with a BAC of .08 – on a first conviction! – will be required to install an ignition interlock device for six months.
You will also lose your license for up to six months and be forced to pay mandatory assessment fees. Your insurance company may decide to no longer insure you and you could then have significant trouble getting a new policy. Without a driver’s license, your ability to earn a living will likely be seriously impacted.
While New York judges generally will not impose jail time for a first or second DWI conviction, a second conviction is an automatic felony. A felony on your record can impact you in many ways: employers look at arrest records as do college admissions representatives, loan officers and landlords.
Incidentally, the top three ranking states toughest on DWIs are: Arizona (1); Alaska (2) and Connecticut (3).
Don’t risk your driver’s license! Contact the savvy criminal lawyers at the LaDuca Law Firm today for a consultation about your DWI charges. There are many defense strategies we can use on your behalf. We will work tirelessly to protect your driving privileges and your record.
