After a drunk driving arrest, it is critical that you hire an experienced and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) certified misdemeanor DWI/DUI lawyer in Las Vegas, New Mexico to mount a legal defense against the prosecutor’s allegations. New Mexico treats DWI /DUI convictions harshly, even for first-time offenses. A DWI/DUI conviction will result in jail time, fines, ignition interlock devices, and damage to your reputation.
Here is the good news: your case is defendable. The rules and laws that surround the stop, test, and arrest sequence are standardized. The police officer is charged with conducting the DWI investigation in compliance with those standardized rules. When the officer fails to comply with his or her training rules, he or she may compromise the validity of the stop, investigation, and arrest.
Free Case Strategy Session with a Las Vegas, NM Misdemeanor DWI/DUI Lawyer
You do not have to go down without a fight. At Grano Law Offices, P.C., we offer experienced and aggressive counsel to individuals and families throughout central and northern New Mexico. Marc Grano provides prospective clients with a Free Case Strategy Session to learn more about their legal options at no cost or obligation.
Request your Free Case Strategy Session now by messaging us here. For a faster response, you or your loved ones are welcome to call us directly at (505) 426-8711.
The Penalties of a Misdemeanor DWI/DUI Are Severe
New Mexico has some of the strictest laws in the country when it comes to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol. NMSA 1978, Section 66-8-102. Whether you feel intoxicated or not, it is illegal to drive in New Mexico when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 or higher. Being arrested for DWI can result in heavy fines or even jail time. Hire a misdemeanor DWI/DUI lawyer in Las Vegas, New Mexico to fight your charges.
Penalties for a First-Time DWI/DUI Conviction
The penalties for Driving Under the Influence in New Mexico vary significantly with the circumstances. Under New Mexico law, a first offense can carry up to 90 days in jail and up to a $500 fine. A sentence for a first offense can be deferred or suspended (the mandatory minimum may NOT be deferred or suspended), which means it will not be imposed if you are compliant with the one-year probationary period.
Mandatory First-Time DWI/DUI Conviction Penalties
Mandatory penalties of a DWI/DUI first offense include installing and using an ignition interlock device, DWI school, an alcohol screening and compliance with the recommendations, 24 hours community service, and treatment, if recommended or ordered by the courts.
Penalties for a Second DWI/DUI Conviction
A second and third conviction for DWI/DUI carries up to 364 days of jail time and a fine of up to $1,000. Like first offenses, sentences for second or third convictions can be suspended in part, meaning that the non-mandatory jail time or fine will not be imposed if you comply with probation. Probation for second and third offenses can range from 1 to 5 years.
Unlike first convictions, second and third convictions (and aggravated first conditions, as explained in the next section) carry a mandatory jail sentence; second convictions carry a mandatory 96 hours, and third convictions have a mandatory 30 days in jail. Both require substantial and compulsory community service hours.
Mandatory Second DWI/DUI Conviction Penalties
Second convictions require the following mandatory consequences: fines of up to $1,000, a mandatory $500 fine, minimum compulsory 48 hours community service, treatment, installation of the ignition interlock device during the probationary period.
Penalties for a Third DWI/DUI Conviction
DWI Third convictions require the following mandatory penalties: fines of up to $1,000, with a mandatory $750 fine, a mandatory minimum of 96 hours of community service, treatment, installation of the ignition interlock device during the period of probation, and palm printing. Once again, probation may range from 1 to 5 years for a second or third conviction.
Penalties for an Aggravated DWI/DUI Conviction
You might be looking at charges of Aggravated DWI if your BAC was .16 or higher, if you caused bodily harm to someone while Driving Under the Influence, or if you refused to have your blood alcohol tested. NMSA 1978, Section 66-8-102(D).
Mandatory Aggravated DWI/DUI Conviction Penalties
If you are convicted of Aggravated DWI, you must serve a mandatory 48 hours in jail for your first offense. If you are convicted of Aggravated DWI as a second offense, you must do a mandatory eight days of jail time. If you are convicted of Aggravated DWI as your third offense, you must serve a mandatory 90 days of jail time.
Hire a NHTSA Certified Misdemeanor DWI/DUI Lawyer in Las Vegas, New Mexico
The effective defense of a DWI/DUI arrest is specialized, intricate, and detailed. I am certified by the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and conduct DWI/DUI investigations.
I will use my knowledge and experience to provide you with the best defense possible. My team and I will obtain every piece of evidence, conduct a thorough defense investigation, prepare a defense of your case with you, fight for your driver’s license, and challenge the prosecutor every step of the way.
Protect Yourself with a Misdemeanor DWI/DUI Lawyer
DWI/DUI charges are defensible. You should and do not have to accept responsibility for a crime you did not commit or if your civil rights were violated during the stop, test, and arrest sequence. A misdemeanor DWI/DUI lawyer in Las Vegas, New Mexico at Grano Law Offices, P.C. will investigate your entire case and preserve evidence that clears your name as discoverable.
