Criminal Defense Lawyers

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192.1: Driving while ability impaired

How a DWAI Can Affect Certain Areas of Your Life

If you have been arrested for the crime of Driving While Ability Impaired, or DWAI, you’re going to have a long road ahead of you, and no doubt many questions. DWAI is a serious offense and it’s going to affect a number of different areas of your life, including your employment. This is a real concern and it’s best if you retain experienced DWAI attorneys to help defend you.

Consequences of a DWAI on Your Employment

A DWAI conviction on your record can make it much more difficult to find employment. If you depend on driving as part of your job and your license is revoked or suspended as a result of a DWAI conviction, then you are bound to have even more issues and could end up losing your job. If you find yourself needing to take time off for court-mandated counseling and court appearances, it’s not going to look good to your employer.

If your job requires you to have a commercial drivers’ license, a DWI conviction could be cause for immediate revocation of your CDL, which would then most likely result in your loss of employment. Some employers also have rules outlined in their employee handbooks that state that conviction of certain crimes is cause for the immediate termination of employment.

Financial Ramifications

You may also find yourself suffering additional ramifications on the financial side of things. For example, your insurance rates will most likely go up. In some cases, certain insurance companies outright refuse to insure drivers who have a DWAI on their record. So even if you don’t lose your driver’s license or job after a DWAI conviction, you may find yourself having a difficult time paying the premiums for your insurance.

Probable Cause

Christine Twomey

2024-03-21

Just had my Divorce case settled 2 months ago after having a horrible experience with another firm. I couldn’t be happier with Claire Banks and Elizabeth Garvey with their outstanding professionalism in doing so with Spodek Law Group. Any time I needed questions answered they were always prompt in doing so with all my uncertainties after 30 yrs of marriage.I feel from the bottom of my heart you will NOT be disappointed with either one. Thanks a million.

Brendan huisman

2024-03-18

Alex Zhik contacted me almost immediately when I reached out to Spodek for a consultation and was able to effectively communicate the path forward/consequences of my legal issue. I immediately agreed to hire Alex for his services and did not regret my choice. He was able to cover my case in court (with 1 day notice) and not only was he able to push my case down, he carefully negotiated a dismissal of the charge altogether. I highly recommend Spodek, and more specifically, Alex Zhik for all of your legal issues. Thanks guys!

Guerline Menard

2024-03-18

Thanks again Spodek law firm, particularly Esq Claire Banks who stood right there with us up to the finish line. Attached photos taken right outside of the court building and the smile on our faces represented victory, a breath of fresh air and satisfaction. We are very happy that this is over and we can move on with our lives. Thanks Spodek law 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️

Keisha Parris

2024-03-15

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

Anthony Williams

2024-03-12

Hey, how you guys doing? Good afternoon my name is Anthony Williams I just want to give a great shout out to the team of. Spodek law group. It is such a honor to use them and to use their assistance through this whole case from start to finish. They did everything that they said they was gonna do and if it ever comes down to it, if I ever have to use them again, hands-down they will be the first law office at the top of my list, thank you guys so much. It was a pleasure having you guys by my side so if you guys ever need them, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.

Loveth Okpedo

2024-03-12

Very professional, very transparent, over all a great experience

Bee L

2024-02-28

Amazing experience with Spodek! Very professional lawyers who take your case seriously. They treated me with respect, were always available, and answered any and all questions. They were able to help me very successfully and removed a huge stress. Highly recommend.

divesh patel

2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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If you’ve been charged with a DWAI, it is very important that you contact an experienced DWAI attorney. Your attorney will work with you to review the circumstances that were surrounding your arrest to determine what to expect during the defense process. One of the areas that your defense attorney will consider is the area of probable cause.

Probable cause is the legal reason that the police officer had to pull you over to begin with. A police officer cannot just pull you over based on a suspicion that you’re drunk, he has to see you commit another infraction in order to pull you off the road to further investigate.

For example, a police officer can see you swerving in and out of your lanes and pull you over for that reason, as he’ll most likely already be suspicious of your alleged intoxication. From there, he will determine that you have, in fact, been driving while under the influence.

Another type of probable cause is if you’re speeding. Now, in this instance, the officer may not be suspicious that your driving while under the influence, but once he pulls you over for speeding, he’ll soon discover there’s more to the story.

If you were pulled over and the driver did not have probable cause to do so, that is a defense that your attorneys will use in order to defend your charge.

The best thing you can do if you’ve been charged with DWAI is to contact an experienced attorney as soon as you can. Your attorney will work hard to get you the best results possible, including saving your drivers license and possibly your job. Reach out to an experienced team today for more information.