Syracuse Criminal Law Blog

What are the 2 times the police can stop you and give you a DWI?

If you ever face criminal charges, it is crucial to remember there is always a chance to fight them, regardless of how shut and closed your case might appear. A charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI) is no exception. One option is to contest why the police stopped you. The police can give you a DUI in one of two situations: At an official sobriety checkpoint New York allows these.

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How can you contest an eyewitness account?

If an eyewitness account played a significant role in you facing criminal charges, it is important to remember you still have a chance to contest their account – usually, in court. People often assume that if someone is willing to swear in front of a judge that they saw you doing something, then they must be telling the truth. However, this is not always the case. Even if it were,

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Can you refuse to open the door to the police?

If you hear a knocking at your door and look out to see the police there, what you do next is crucial. Many people who wrongly thought they had to open the door have ended up facing criminal charges they could perhaps have avoided by leaving the door shut. Police officers know that many people do not understand their rights, so they may try to persuade or pressure people into

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Is fighting a DWI charge worth the investment?

Accusations that someone committed a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense can mean big expenses for the criminal defendant. Retaining an attorney and paying for timing court is not cheap, and there are a surprisingly large number of defendants who would rather just plead guilty to a DWI than try to fight back and protect their previously pristine driving records. These drivers might look at the standard fines assigned for first,

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College-aged students could make criminal mistakes

When you send your child away to college, you expect them to stay on the right side of the law. You don’t expect them to get caught doing drugs or driving drunk. Still, many people who go to college are still minors, and the majority won’t be able to legally drink until they’ve been at school for a few years. It is possible for them to use this newfound independence

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You don’t need to drive poorly to get arrested for a New York DWI

You never know when you might encounter a New York police officer engaged in traffic enforcement. Sometimes they lie in wait outside of popular clubs and restaurants or just down the street from a major venue when there is a concert. Other times, you will simply cross paths with an officer driving around looking for traffic infractions. An officer might pull you over because your behavior at the wheel makes

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Federal versus state drug crimes: What are the differences?

If you’re accused of a drug crime, it’s important for you to find out if you’re facing state or federal charges. There are some differences in how these cases are handled at the state or federal level. Differences, such as variances in the length of time you could be imprisoned or the fines associated with the charges, could have varied implications for your case. Whether you’re accused of state or

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Dealing with the social impact of a DWI

Although many people would like to assume that the impact of a DWI ends once you pay fines or complete a sentence, the reality is that there are many ways in which a DWI could affect you even after you’ve resolved it. Socially, you may run into problems that you weren’t expecting. For example, if you are a doctor, word of your DWI could spread among your patients. You may

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Should you plead guilty to a DWI?

There are plenty of times when it makes sense to admit to doing something wrong, but in criminal law, you rarely want to plead guilty to a crime unless you know that you have no other option. Pleading guilty to a DWI could end up leading to heavy fines, the loss of your license, time in jail and other penalties that you may not have to deal with if you

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What if the cops don’t say the Miranda Warning during an arrest?

Many additions to the federal Constitution and prior court rulings help protect those accused of crimes. Every person in the United States has specific legal rights when the police investigate them or arrest them. The average person may only have a basic understanding of how the law protects people involved in the criminal justice system. Although many people don’t know all of their legal rights if the police arrest them,

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