Charged with a BUI or BWI?

If you’ve been in an accident, the police might have reasonable cause to arrest you if they suspect you’re under the influence. They’ll ask you to submit to a breath test to determine whether you’ve had too much to drink. While you can refuse, that might cause the officer to immediately revoke your ability to drive your boat. It will be noted in the report that you refused to have your breath tested. When your right to operate your boat has been revoked, you’re entitled to a hearing.

At the hearing, a careful examination of the arrest process is crucial. Legal representation can contest any procedural errors or violations of rights, which may influence the outcome of your case.

During the hearing, there are certain issues that will be addressed:

• Did the police have reasonable cause to believe you were driving under the influence?
• Did the police make a lawful arrest?
• Were you given a warning about the results of a refusal?
• Did you still refuse to submit to testing?

Penalties of a BUI Conviction

Conviction of a BUI or BWI means that you could spend up to 90 days in the county jail. You might be fined between $350 and $500. In some cases, both of those punishments could take place.

If this is not your first offense, and it has happened in the last 10 years, you might be convicted of a misdemeanor, which can lead to up to a year in jail or a fine between $500 to $1,500. In some cases, both outcomes are possible. Repeat offenders often face increasingly severe penalties, underlining the importance of understanding your legal rights and options.

Along with possible jail time and fines, your license will be suspended for 6 months. If this is not your first offense in the past 10 years, you could lose your ability to operate a vessel for 24 months.

Possible Penalties for an Underage DWI in New York

The good news is that as someone younger than 21, you aren’t facing criminal charges if this is a DUI charge for having a blood alcohol concentration of .02% but under .08%. Of course, losing your driver’s license for months at a time can still cause issues in your personal life, and you would still have to pay civil penalties.

However, if an underage driver has a BAC that would be high enough to get a DWI charge as an adult, that is, a BAC above .08%, then you could face the same misdemeanor or felony penalties that an adult would. Legal counsel can provide vital support in understanding the consequences and potentially negotiating lesser sentences.

For a first-time underage DWI with a BAC above .08%, you could face:

• Up to a year in jail
• Up to $1,000 in fines
• 6 months of driver's license revocation
• An ignition interlock device

For a second or third underage DWI conviction, you could be looking at up to:

• 4 to 7 years in prison
• $5,000 to $10,000 in fines
• 1 year, 5 years, or perhaps longer driver's license revocation
• Ignition interlock device

It may be possible to negotiate a prison sentence to one of community service instead, but that would require the tireless work of a skilled defense lawyer.

Felony DWI Penalties

If you have a prior Aggravated DWI within the past 10 years, then a second Aggravated-DWI charge would be a Class E felony.

This type of drunk driving charge is punishable by:

• Up to 4 years in prison
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• 18 months of driver's license revocation

If this is your first Aggravated-DWI charge, but you had a child passenger in your vehicle, then you could also be charged with a Class E felony. This particular circumstance attracts severe legal consequences, and having knowledgeable legal support can be crucial for navigating these complexities.

For a third Aggravated-DWI in 10 years, you could face the penalties for a Class D felony:

• Up to 7 years in prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines
• Possibly a permanent license revocation

You may also be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle, and you may also be required to go through alcohol or drug abuse treatment as well as a victim impact program.

Multiple DWI Penalties

For a second DWAI, you could be looking at up to 30 days in jail, hundreds of dollars in fines, and six months of license revocation—but only if these convictions are for driving while ability impaired, a DWAI. If you're convicted of a subsequent DWI, driving while intoxicated, charge, then you're looking at felony DUI charges.

If you have a prior DWI, drug-DWAI, or combination-DWAI conviction, then a second or third DWI conviction could mean:

• Up to 4 or 7 years in prison
• Fines of up to $5,000 or $10,000
• Community service
• 1 to 5 years of license revocation (or permanent revocation for a third conviction within four years)
• Ignition interlock device installation

Sentencing for a multiple DUI conviction could also include undergoing treatment programs, attending a victim impact panel, and three years of additional fines. Engaging a proficient legal team early in the process can provide options that might mitigate the severity of these outcomes.