The Post-Standard has reported on two recent incidents in which drunk drivers have caused disruption on streets and highways in the Syracuse area. Drunk driving is a serious offense in New York, and has far-reaching consequences if you are convicted. In some circumstances, the penalties can be even more severe if you have also taken steps to further endanger the lives of others or disobey law enforcement officials.

In March, The Post-Standard reported on a drunk driver that took police on brief high-speed chase. At approximately 2:30 in the morning on Saturday, March 12, the accused was spotted by police speeding in the 1800 block of South State Street while police were finishing a response to an unrelated call. Police indicated that the vehicle driven by the accused was going so fast that they believed it may have hit several parked cars, so they got into their cars and began following the accused’s vehicle.

The accused’s vehicle eventually stopped at the 400 block of Kirk Avenue where officers believed the accused to be intoxicated. The driver has now been charged with a first-time offense of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation, unsafe speed, and several other traffic violations. In combination with one another, these charges could mean jail time and heavy financial penalties, not to mention consequences related to license suspension or revocation if the accused driver wishes to maintain or obtain a New York driver’s license.

More recently, The Post-Standard reported that a Herkimer County female driver had been charged with two counts of felony aggravated driving while impaired and one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child after she allegedly drove drunk and her vehicle went off a road in Oneida County with two young children in the vehicle. According to the article, police say that they were called to the scene of a vehicle that had gone off Obrien Road in Forestport around 8:30 in the evening on Saturday, May 14. The accused allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of .13 percent, well above the .08 percent legal limit for impaired driving in New York. The fact that the driver had two children in the car when the incident occurred accounts for why the driver has been charged with aggravated driving while impaired instead of a typical charge of driving while impaired. New York’s Leandra’s Law was enacted to increase penalties for drunk drivers that get behind the wheel while intoxicated and have children under the age of 16 as passengers. According to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, this type of charge is elevated to a felony that is punishable by up to four years in state prison, even if no injuries occur.

Facing Drunk Driving or Criminal Charges?

If you are facing charges related to drunk driving, Nave DWI Defense Attorneys’s drunk driving defense team has the experience to help you understand the charges you are facing, the potential consequences of a conviction, and the options available for your defense. Nave DWI Defense Attorneys’s DWI defense team only handle DWI-related charges, and can use the experience that they have gained working with numerous clients across New York to help you. Drinking and driving is never the right choice, but even if you have made the mistake of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you still have rights that must be protected.

In the instances discussed above, both drivers also face severe penalties related to other criminal charges that arose from driving while impaired. If you are facing similar criminal charges, Nave DWI Defense Attorneys also has an experienced criminal defense team that is ready to work with you. As you can see, the potential for severe consequences related to drinking and driving is a very real concern, and it is imperative that you have criminal defense attorneys that will work with you throughout the legal process related to charges you may be facing. Contact Nave DWI Defense Attorneys’s DWI attorneys to schedule a consultation related to your charges, or contact Nave DWI Defense Attorneys’s criminal defense team for other criminal charges you may be facing.

DISCLAIMER: The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem. Corporate offices for Nave DWI Defense Attorneys are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.