The DWI Process

Finding Information You Need

Most people do not know what to expect in the DWI process. Understandably, nobody wants to have to prepare for such a challenging event. This means that most individuals arrested for drunk driving often feel overwhelmed and wholly unprepared to effectively deal with an arrest.

Securing the services of a lawyer can be a way to feel in control again. Having a legal advocate on your side enables you to be informed about issues involved with your case. You can move forward with confidence, understanding that a knowledgeable professional is watching out for your legal interests.

What To Expect During The DWI Process

As you respond to intoxicated driving charges against you, it’s important to remember that every case is different. The situation that a friend or loved one faced is likely to be different from the circumstances of your case. With that said, there are some elements commonly seen in the DWI process. These include:

• Police make a traffic stop — — After you have been pulled over for suspected impaired driving, the officer may ask you some questions and administer one or more field sobriety tests.
• Chemical testing takes place — your performance on field sobriety tests may lead to further testing to definitively check your blood alcohol content (BAC) through a Breathalyzer test or blood test. If your BAC is over the legal alcohol limit for New York, you will likely be arrested.
• Charges are filed — if your chemical tests conclusively indicate that you were driving under the influence, you will be criminally charged with DWI or receive a traffic ticket for DWAI depending on the circumstances of your case.
• Court proceedings begin — once charged, the DWI process continues to the court.. Your attorney  may be able to  prepare a defense by calling certain evidence into question, such as whether police had probable cause to stop you or the validity of BAC test results.
• A judgment is made — after full arguments by the prosecution and the defense, a determination of your guilt or innocence will be made. It’s also possible, however, that your lawyer will be able to negotiate with prosecutors to have charges reduced. If a deal favorable reached, you may instead simply plead guilty.

In addition to the criminal proceedings involved in the DWI process, there are also administrative aspects of the charges.  For example, if you want to contest a license suspension, you will have to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to request a an appeal hearing.
 

Effectively Fighting Against DWI Charges With A New York City DWI Lawyer

Just as an attorney can be important in representing you in criminal proceedings, so too can he or she be helpful in the administrative realm. In fact, there is almost no aspect of dealing with the DWI process that a lawyer will not be familiar with.

An attorney can answer frequently asked questions about DWI and seek to understand the circumstances of your case, thereby developing the best possible defense. This legal professional will be by your side throughout the DWI process, advocating for your best interests each step of the way.