In a DWI refusal policy change beginning in December of 2014, the Westchester DA’s Office will no longer reduce the first DWI misdemeanor to a violation DWAI if the driver refused to take the breathalyzer. Additionally, the same guideline change was made for a DWI where the driver has a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .14% or higher. This policy change is significant and puts Westchester County DWI and DWI refusal enforcement along the same lines as Nassau County.
Attorneys with DWI clients that are charged with DWI refusal of the breathalyzer, or blow with a BAC of .14% or more, will now need to take their case to trial to try to avoid a misdemeanor conviction.
Have you recently been charged with theft? Theft crimes can have serious consequences, but not all theft charges are treated equally under the law. In New York, the distinction between a misdemeanor and a felony theft charge hinges on several key factors.
In New York, prior drug possession charges can have a significant influence on any subsequent criminal cases. These previous convictions can alter the way courts approach new charges, affecting sentencing, the defense strategy, and even the outcome of a case.
