New York DUI Law Blog

Currently, New York judges in DWI cases have the discretion to impose the sentence they feel is most appropriate, given the circumstances of the offense. Sometimes, this involves jail time. Often though, it does not.

This may soon change. Last week, the state Senate passed a bill that would require mandatory jail sentences for repeat New York DWI offenders.

Often, the consequences of a DWI charge can extend far beyond criminal penalties. A DWI can also put your job at risk.

Obviously, commercial drivers, cab drivers and others whose livelihood depends on being able to operate a motor vehicle can risk losing a job after a New York DWI. However, New Yorkers who operate in the public sphere can also face serious professional consequences, especially if there are extenuating circumstances attached to the DWI like a serious accident or an alleged misuse of authority.

In one such case, a Bronx prosecutor was fired earlier this month, nearly 18 months after she allegedly caused a drunk driving crash on the Major Deegan Expressway.

The fallout from a fatal DWI accident is devastating to nearly everyone it touches.

Of course, the trauma the victim's loved ones experience cannot be minimized. However, the driver in a New York drunk driving accident will also encounter significant legal and emotional consequences.

In addition to the penalties for driving while intoxicated, the driver may face felony charges for vehicular manslaughter. A conviction for vehicular manslaughter often comes with a jail sentence that can separate parents from their families, interrupt the pursuit of education or irreparably damage a career.

The former director of the Rochester International Airport is facing serious consequences in the wake of a traffic accident authorities attribute to drunk driving.

Susan Walsh was driving a county-owned vehicle late last month when she rear-ended a car that was stopped at a red light. Police who responded to the scene reported that Walsh failed three field sobriety tests but refused a Breathalyzer test.

Walsh has been charged with misdemeanor DWI and resigned her position in the wake of the scandal. In addition to these consequences, she also faces penalties under New York's implied consent law for refusing a breath test.