A person who has faced DUI or DWI charges several times can face an increasing number of charges and penalties for each additional offense. Penalties such as license suspension, license revocation, fines and jail time can all be used as punishments for repeat offenses. Anyone facing these types of charges should seek advice from a legal professional so they understand the possible consequences of their actions and can create a strong defense. A man is facing a possible lengthy jail sentence after his latest DWI conviction, one of a string of convictions that included several counties including Suffolk.

The 51-year-old man pleaded guilty to DWI after a May, 2012 incident. While driving, the man struck and injured a 76-year-old woman when she was crossing a road while hand-in-hand with her 78-year-old husband. This was the man’s twelfth DWI conviction. According to records, the man has been convicted of DWI six times in Nassau County, and six additional times in Suffolk County.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in December. The man faces up to 14 years in prison. The district attorney who prosecuted the case said that a habitual drunk driver makes the roads unsafe for all other drivers and it is best for everyone that those who drink and drive repeatedly be behind bars. When prosecutors take this stance, it is paramount that anyone who has been convicted more than once seek strong legal counsel.

Drunk driving is a serious offense that can have equally serious consequences. That said, anyone charged with the offense has the right to present a vigorous defense against the charges being brought. Experience legal professionals can help a defendant frame one’s case and present it in the best possible light and attempt to persuade a prosecutor or judge to agree to lesser charges or alternative penalties.

Source: CBS New York, “Long Island Man Convicted Of 12th DWI” No author given, Oct. 10, 2013