Huntington Station DWI Lawyer

DWI

Arrested for Drunk Driving? Contact Huntington DWI Defense Lawyer Andrew Karpf Today

The dangers of drinking and driving have been well understood for decades. Yet every day, we see cases here on Long Island of people arrested and charged with DWI. For many Huntington Station residents, a drunk driving arrest represents their first–and hopefully only–personal interaction with New York’s criminal justice system. But even for a first-time offender, the consequences of a DWI conviction can be quite serious, which is why you need experienced attorney in DWI law and has a successful track record of DWI cases.

To put it bluntly, you cannot treat a drunk driving arrest like a run-of-the-mill traffic ticket without the experience of a DWI attorney. You need to work with an experienced Huntington DWI lawyer in who can advise you of your rights under the law and represent your interests in court. The super lawyers at the law firm of Karpf Criminal Law are a full-service New York criminal defense firm with experienced DWI lawyers that represent clients throughout the Town of Huntington, NY who have been charged with DWI and similar offenses. For a fully confidential consultation with a top-tier New York DWI defense lawyer, please do not hesitate to contact us today. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE FACING A DWI CHARGE IN HUNTINGTON STATION

Were you arrested and charged with a drunk driving offense in Huntington Station? You need to take a proactive approach to protect your rights, your freedom, and your future. Here are three key steps to take after a DWI arrest: 

1. Pull Over and Comply With Officers: You should pull over when instructed by an officer and comply with their basic lawful demands, such as providing them your license, registration, and proof of insurance. 
2. Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent: You are not required to answer any questions. Indeed, you should always exercise your right to remain silent. Anything that you say at the scene can be used against you—and your words could get taken out of context. 
3. Consult With a Huntington DWI Defense Lawyer: You have the right to legal representation. A top-tier Huntington DWI defense attorney will review your case, investigate the charges, and take action to protect your best interests.

Each of these things are very important and crucial for you to do or it may complicate the trial process. There are tons of ways for our team to protect your rights and help get sentences reduced or even removed, but if you give up your rights or say the wrong thing, it could diminish the options that we have. Don’t wait, call today if you need help with a DWI case anywhere on Long Island or in New York!

New York’s DWI Laws Are Complicated

Many people are familiar with the general rule that a person with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher is considered legally intoxicated and therefore unable to safely operate a motor vehicle. While this is true, New York’s DWI laws are actually quite a bit more complicated than whether or not a person exceeds the 0.08-percent threshold. In fact, there are a number of ways a person may be charged with DUI in Suffolk County, including all of the following:

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): This is the offense most people associate with drunk driving. It applies to a driver with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, or in the case of a person operating under a Commercial Driver License, a BAC of 0.04 or higher. A first offense carries a potential fine of between $500 and $1,000, up to 1 year in jail, and revocation of the offender’s driver’s license for at least 6 months.
• Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI-Alcohol): A driver with a BAC of between 0.05 and 0.07 percent can be charged under New York law with DWAI-Alcohol. A first offense carries a potential fine of between $300 and $500, a jail term of up to 15 days, and a 90-day suspension of the offender’s license to drive.
• Driving While Ability Impaired by a Single Drug (DWAI-Drug) . Alcohol is not the only thing that can get you arrested for DUI. You can also be charged with DWI if you are impaired due to taking a single drug. This can include either an illegal controlled substance or a legal prescription medication. The penalties for a DWAI-Drug are the same as those for DWI.
• Driving While Ability Impaired by a Combination of Alcohol or Drugs (DWAI-Combination). You can also be charged with DWAI if law enforcement believes that your ability to drive was compromised through the use of any combination of drugs and alcohol.
• Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated: An aggravated DWI is one where the driver’s measured BAC is 0.18 percent or higher. A first offense for aggravated DWI carries a maximum possible fine of between $1,000 and $2,2500, up to 1 year in jail, and a mandatory 1-year revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.

Please note that if you have any prior DWI or similar convictions–in New York or any other state–that may count against you in a subsequent drunk driving case in New York. All of the laws described above carry harsher penalties for second, third, and subsequent offenses. And in some cases, a Suffolk County judge may be able to “look back” as much as 25 years to count a prior conviction against you for sentencing purposes. This is why hiring the right Huntington, New York DWI lawyer is so important.

NEW YORK LAW: KNOW THE RULES FOR DWI TESTING 

Chemical Tests

New York has an implied consent law. If you are arrested for a DWI, you are required to submit to a breath test. A DWI refusal can result in an automatic license suspension in New York. If you have questions about a DWI refusal, our Huntington DWI defense lawyer is here to help. 

Field Sobriety Tests

There are serious questions about the reliability of field sobriety tests. In New York State, field sobriety tests are not required as a matter of law. You are within your rights to refuse to take a DWI field sobriety test without facing any automatic penalties. There is no implied consent law for field sobriety testing in New York State.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE SUSPENSION PROCESS WITH AN EXPERIENCED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

A key point to know about your rights after a DWI arrest in New York is that your license will face an automatic administrative suspension. In other words, your license could be suspended based on the DWI charge alone—that means a suspension before you ever have a chance to raise a defense in court. If you refuse a breath test or you fail a breath test, your license will be subject to an automatic administrative suspension. You need to take immediate action to protect your right to drive. Consult with a top Huntington Station DWI defense lawyer and Suffolk County DWI lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest. 

KNOW THE DEFENSES AGAINST DWI CHARGES IN NEW YORK

A DWI charge is, at its core, an allegation. In other words, a driver facing an arrest for drunk driving is not necessarily guilty of the offense. Indeed, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Prosecutors have the burden of proof. Our Huntington Station DWI defense lawyer and Nassau County DWI attorneys will help you evaluate every possible defense strategy, including: 

• Challenging the Stop: A police officer must have probable cause in order to make a DWI stop. If you were stopped for an illegal reason, it is possible that the evidence obtained at that stop may be excluded from court. That could lead to the charges being dismissed. 
• Challenging DWI Test Results: DWI test results—including breath tests results—can be unreliable for a number of different reasons. A top-tier Huntington Station DWI defense lawyer can help you take action to challenge breath/blood tests.   
• Negotiating a Plea Agreement: An aggressive strategy is not always the right way to defend a drunk driving/drugged driving case. If in your best interests, our Huntington, NY DWI lawyer can help you negotiate the most favorable plea agreement.

WHY RELY ON DWI LAWYER ANDREW KARPF AND OUR TEAM OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

If you are detained by Suffolk County or local police on suspicion of a DWI offense, do not panic. Remember that you do not have to answer any police questions and that you have the right to speak with a qualified Huntington DWI lawyer and New York Criminal defense attorney about your DUI and DWI case. One reason you should speak with criminal defense lawyers is that your criminal defense lawyer may be able to identify a defect in the police or District Attorney’s investigation that can get the charge against you dismissed or reduced to a less-serious offense. For example, the police may have lacked probable cause to stop your vehicle or failed to advise you of your rights before interrogating you regarding your DWI arrest. You need an aggressive, experienced lawyer on your side. is an award-winning New York criminal defense lawyer. Our clients tell the story best. Our experienced DWI attorney is proactive. Along with other things, our Huntington Station DWI defense attorney is prepared to: 

• Conduct a comprehensive, confidential review of your case; 
• Investigate the DWI charges—gathering the evidence to build your defense; 
• Handle all correspondence with police officers and prosecutors; and
• Build a personalized strategy focused on helping you get the best outcome. 

DWI CHARGES IN NEW YORK: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

I Was Arrested for a DWI—Should I Give a Statement to Police?

No. Do not agree to provide a statement to law enforcement without a lawyer by your side. Once an arrest has been made, the role of police officers is to gather evidence to prove your guilt. Anything that you say could be taken out of context or otherwise used against you in court. You have a constitutionally protected right to remain silent. 

Will I Lose My Lose If Charged With a DWI in Huntington, NY?

You might. Your driver’s license is at risk if you are facing a drunk driving charge or drugged driving charge in New York. Your license could be suspended at the administrative level and/or the criminal level. It is imperative that you take immediate action to protect your right to drive: Consult with a top-tier Huntington Station DWI defense lawyer right away after an arrest.

Is it Possible to Get Drunk Driving Charges Dismissed?

It is absolutely possible to get drunk driving charges dismissed in some cases. Whether or not you can get your case dismissed outright will depend on a wide range of case specific factors. Our Huntington Station, NY DWI defense lawyer will review every potential defense strategy to help you get the best outcome—including getting your case thrown out.

Should I Take a Plea Deal in My DWI Case?

It depends on a wide range of case-specific factors, including the strength of the evidence and the terms of the agreement. A plea agreement should always be negotiated by an experienced Huntington Station, NY DWI defense attorney. 

CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY TODAY

So if you are facing any type of drunk driving charge and need legal counsel from an effective DUI defense attorney at our law offices on what steps to take next, call our Huntington Station, NY DWI attorneys Karpf Criminal Law today at (631) 424-6444 or contact us online to schedule a consultation for your DWI defense. With an office in Huntington Station, our skilled DWI lawyers defends DWI charges in Suffolk County and Nassau County and throughout the surrounding region in Long Island.