If you have been charged for Driving While Intoxicated or DWI in Albany, New York, getting an attorney who specializes in the case can significantly improve your chances of defeating these charges. The punishments for conviction include 90 days to 12 years imprisonment, fines ranging from 500 USD to 10,000 USD, compulsory DWI educational programs, and suspension of driver’s license.
The first step to do now is to find an experienced lawyer to have the proper legal help. This website provides useful information in looking for a DWI attorney.
Here are the things you should expect when hiring one:
1) Talk about what really happened
Your attorney would like to get information such as your present arrest, traffic stop and the time spent under police custody. If you were brought under police custody, the lawyer would need to know the events between your capture and release. He would also like to know about the details of your activities before your arrest. You might be asked to provide details such as:
- Meals that you may have skipped or eaten that day
- Any stressful events prior to what happened
- Anything that could help justify drinking while intoxicated
Just take the time in remembering all these details. You have to be honest to your lawyer and admit if there are details you may have missed. Remember that your case is the lawyer’s priority.
2) Discuss your criminal record
Aside from talking about personal information such as employment, weight, height, and marital status, your lawyer may also want to talk about your criminal history. A previous criminal record may be useful to your case, so it is important that your lawyer know details such as this to help him devise an effective defense. Hiding crucial information from your lawyer can even affect their strategy.
A valid former conviction may automatically give you a jail sentence for your present charge. Aside from helping your lawyer develop a strategy, knowing about your criminal history can also help in negotiating a bargaining a plea for you. So, it is important that you avoid hiding any criminal history from your DWI lawyer.
3) Advise on how to act
A good lawyer that specializes in drinking while intoxicated also knows when to tell you to keep quiet about your case. Since anything you say regarding the case can be used against you, expect that your lawyer will request your silence to avoid you being probed by prosecutors. Trust that your lawyer will do anything to help give you the best results.
4) Know the local courts well
Expect that your DWI attorney is experienced and familiar with the local courts. And even if your lawyer may not have the same exposure to judges like other public defenders, you can select a lawyer who has had enough experience in facing juries, local judges and rules of court.
5) Monitor filings and legal deadlines
There are many steps in a DWI case that have deadlines that you can expect your lawyer to monitor. For instance, if you forgot to request dashcam footage in the allowed time, then a major evidence of potential police misconduct may be almost impossible to obtain. There could be different motions that needed filing for your DWI case, and your lawyer is prepared to present these filings on the required time.
6) Discuss with rough prosecutors
DWI lawyers often work with local prosecutors to create plea bargains or jail alternatives for drunken driving lawbreakers. These attorneys have extensive years of trust, support, and negotiating skills needed for the case. A lot of prosecutors will not even try negotiating with defendants representing himself.
7) Help ease out your conviction
Even if in the end you will get a conviction, a DWI lawyer can still help you wipe off the conviction so that it won’t affect your future employment or credit. The procedure related to this step may vary among state and local courts, and you can expect the DWI attorney to know about this procedure.
Final Thoughts
While other lawyers may suggest that you plead your way towards a reduced sentence, a DWI lawyer will do his best to fight your charges. Your DWI attorney is your best partner, and he will be beside you from the start until the end of your case. The more information you provide your lawyer regarding the case, the better he can mount a defense. Working hand in hand with your lawyer will ensure the best results for your DWI case.
