Driving while intoxicated in New York means you’ve been drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana or taking prescription drugs. The consequences are the same if you’re convicted, and those consequences can be quite harsh. If you receive a charge with driving while intoxicated in New York City or in Long Island, it’s critical to contact a knowledgeable drug defense lawyer in Long Island as soon as you can.

Marijuana and DWI

While a growing number of states are liberalizing their marijuana laws, concern is also growing across the nation about drivers who mix marijuana and alcohol. Some new research findings from Europe are causing even more apprehensions.

There is simply no question or debate – smoking pot and drinking alcohol together does far more damage to your driving ability than simply consuming either substance exclusively. That’s what researchers in the Netherlands at Maastricht University found when they tested a number of volunteers. When alcohol is combined with marijuana, and even when a driver’s blood alcohol content level is measurably under the legal limit, driving ability is substantially impaired, and a driver’s driving behavior resembles the driving pattern of someone significantly over the legal limit. Combining even small quantities of the two drugs together essentially destroys your ability to drive a vehicle safely.

Prescriptions and DWI

in New York state, if you are arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated, immediately take your case to a well-known and knowledgeable Long Island criminal defense attorney. Understand, however, that a second DWI conviction within ten years of the first is a Class E felony in New York, and if you are convicted, the penalties will a fine from $1,000 to $5,000 and ten days in jail or sixty hours of community service. If you’ve been convicted of DWI more than four or five times, you may be struggling with a dependency issue, and you should probably seek some counseling. Almost anyone can avoid DWI troubles by quitting alcohol. Drivers who don’t drink alcohol do not get charged with DWI – usually.

However, if you are using pharmaceuticals prescribed by your doctor, DWI can get complicated. You can’t just “quit” your prescription medication like you can quit drinking. Your medicine is keeping you healthy, but you probably should not drive while you’re taking it. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair your ability to drive. Driving while taking these medications could get you charged with DWI. You could be responsible for a collision, serious injuries, and even fatalities.

If your physician has prescribed medications for you or prescribes them in the future, ask the doctor to describe how the drugs will affect you. Always heed the warning labels that accompany medications. If you receive an accusation of a prescription drug-related DWI New York state, it’s like every other DWI charge. Keep in mind that you do have a right to remain silent. Additionally, you have the right to consult an attorney before answering any questions. If you’re charged with a DWI in Long Island, or even in any one of the five boroughs, obtain legal help at once. Let an experienced DWI defense attorney in Long Island represent you and fight on your behalf. After any New York DWI arrest, make the call immediately.

What To Do If You’re Stopped for DWI

If you are pulled over by law enforcement officers in New York City or Long Island because you are suspected of DWI, remain silent and do not consent to a search of your vehicle. You don’t ever have to consent to an unwarranted search; however,  if a cop does, in fact, have a search warrant, you have to cooperate with the search. If the cops want to do a search without a warrant, be sure to insist on a warrant, but remain polite at all times when communicating with the police officer. A cop doesn’t have the right to detain you unless they have a strong suspicion that you committed a traffic violation or crime. Whenever you have doubt, ask the police officer if you are free to leave.

If you are arrested for marijuana-DWI, you’ll need an experienced DWI defense attorney in Long Island who can represent you aggressively while advocating for the best possible result. Even in first-offense, marijuana-DWI cases, New York courts are seldom lenient. Don’t plead guilty – fight the charge. If you are faced with a DWI charge for any reason in the Mineola, Nassau County, Suffolk County area, or anywhere in New York City, contact a knowledgeable Long Island DWI defense attorney promptly.