Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is against the law in all 50 states. When you drink alcohol, it affects balance, depth perception, coordination, cognitive thinking, judgment, and much more. When you’re behind the wheel and impaired, you can get a DWI, but even worse, you can hurt yourself or other roadway users.
The level of your impairment depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Your gender
- How much you weigh
- If you ate before drinking, and if so, what you ate
- The strength of the drink
- How many drinks you had
- The rate of consumption (how fast you drank those drinks)
- If you’re tired or sick
- If you’re on medication that enhances alcohol’s effects
“Can’t coffee or an energy drink sober me up?” Contrary to popular belief, no amount of caffeine or energy drinks can sober someone up. Same goes for cold showers – they don’t work. The only thing that reduces a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is time.
Penalties for a First DWI
- $500 to $1,000 fine
- Up to one year in jail
- About a $260 surcharge
- Driver license revocation for a minimum of six months (for DWI)
- Driver license suspension for at least six months for DWAI-Drugs
Please note that if you are pulled over on suspicion of DWI and you refuse to take a chemical test in the form of a blood, breath, or urine test, you will face a $500 civil penalty and your driver license will be revoked for at least one year, even if you had zero drugs or alcohol in your system at the time of the stop!
If you’re facing DWI charges in Dutchess, Putnam, or Orange counties, please be aware that you do NOT have to plead guilty and accept your fate. There are many legal defenses for DWI, any of which may turn your charges around in your favor. To explore your legal options, contact our criminal defense firm today.