Albany DWI Lawyer
Call : 888-733-5299
About Our Albany DWI Attorneys
Warren Redlich is the principal DWI attorney in the firm. Stacey DeLoach joined our firm in March of 2009. She manages the paperwork on our DWI and criminal cases and also appears in Court.
Warren is a litigator and is well known for his work in the courtroom. He won two awards as Allstate's top trial attorney in upstate New York and one award as their top attorney in the northeastern United States. He has been defending DWI cases since 2003, and continues to handle personal injury as well.
A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, Warren has a Master's degree from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematical Economics from Rice University. He served as Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court from 2000-2003. Warren opened the Redlich Law Firm in May of 2003.
Warren is admitted to practice in all New York State Courts. He is also admitted to practice in federal courts in the Southern and Northern districts of New York.
Warren speaks and reads English, Japanese, Spanish and French. Aside from English, his strongest conversational language is Japanese and his strongest language for reading is Spanish.
A person answers our phone.
888-733-5299
255 Washington Avenue #108, Albany, NY 12205
Fax: 518-862-1551 wredlich@gmail.com
The Redlich Law Firm
Albany NY DWI Attorneys
Albany DWI
Protect your license and insurance
Don't get convicted of a crime
Make sure you get the best advice and representation
Call us at 888-733-5299
If you have been charged with a DWI in the Albany NY area, we will get you the best resolution possible and make sure everything is handled right.
For drunk driving in Albany County, the District Attorney has adopted a harsh policy for plea bargaining. The deals are often worse than what would happen if you lose at trial.
Because of this, we recommend fighting most Albany DWI cases.
We win a lot of drunk driving cases in Albany, but prior success does not guarantee future results.
We handle DWI in the Albany Schenectady Troy Saratoga area. Call us at 888-733-5299. A person answers our phone 24 hours a day.
We deal well with police and prosecutors in all the local courts.
In many cases we can fight a DWI charge and win.
In others, we cannot make it go away, but we can minimize the consequences
and help you understand the process.
As an experienced defense lawyer, Warren can help you make the right choice about what to do.
The call is toll-free and there is no charge for the initial phone consultation.
Please call us to discuss your case before making any payment: 888-733-5299
$1,500.00 - DWI - Simple $2,500.00 - DWI - Complex $5,000.00 - DWI - Fighting Simple Case $7,500.00 - DWI - Fighting Complex Case.
Call : 888-733-5299
Why Hire a DWI Lawyer?
Our DWI lawyers will save you money and time, and in most cases keep you from getting a criminal record. In some cases we can get you a deal where you would plead to a violation. This makes sense for some of our clients.
Due to changes in NY DWI laws, we now advise most of our clients to fight DWI cases. The same deal you might get in the beginning is almost always available later. By fighting, you get yourself the chance of a better deal.
A DWI charge is a misdemeanor. If you plead guilty to a misdemeanor, you will have a criminal record. Some prosecutors will require you to plead to the misdemeanor if you don’t have a lawyer.
Most of all, you will know that your case is being handled correctly. And we are accessible. A person answers our phone 24 hours a day. In most cases, it may be wise to fight your DWI charge. You should review the facts of your case with Warren (888-733-5299).
DWI charges have become a very serious matter, costing a first-time offender as much as $5000 or more in fines, surcharges, higher insurance premiums, other charges, and the prospect of a criminal record. With that much at stake, it’s worth it to hire a DWI lawyer.
Call now. The phone call and initial phone consultation are free.
Please call us to discuss your case before making any payment: 888-733-5299
A person answers our phone.
888-733-5299
255 Washington Avenue Ext., Suite 108, Albany, NY 12205
Fax: 518-862-1551 wredlich@gmail.com
Call : 888-733-5299
Our Attorneys
Call : 888-733-5299
Warren Redlich is the principal DWI attorney in the firm. Attorney Theodore (Ted) P. Robinson maintains his own practice in the same building and assists Warren with some cases including DWI cases. Attorney Heather J. Redlich (formerly Heather J. Blum) assists the firm with legal research, and is gradually increasing her role.
Warren is a litigator. He won two awards as Allstate’s top trial attorney in upstate New York and one award as their top attorney in the northeastern United States. Now he defends DWI cases.
Warren’s criminal litigation experience includes everything from felonies to traffic tickets. In one recent case, the client was wrongfully accused of stealing from a store where he worked. His first attorney told him to plead to a felony and take 90 days in jail and 5 years of probation. Once Warren took over and started fighting, the offers started getting better. On the first day of trial, as the jury was waiting to be picked, Warren persuaded the District Attorney to drop the charges.
Warren’s civil litigation experience includes a wide variety of personal injury cases; zoning, election, and other disputes against cities and towns; disability insurance; employment matters including wrongful termination; and general litigation. To find out more about our other areas of practice, see our main website.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, Warren has a Master’s degree from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Economics from Rice University. He served as Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court from 2000-2003. Warren opened the Redlich Law Firm in May of 2003.
Warren is admitted to practice in all New York State Courts. He is also admitted to practice in federal courts in the Southern and Northern districts of New York.
Warren speaks and reads English, Japanese, Spanish and French. Aside from English, his strongest conversational language is Japanese and his strongest language for reading is Spanish.
Ted Robinson is a graduate of Albany Law School. He retired from a career in optical engineering about 15 years ago.
Heather Redlich is a cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, the University at Albany, and Binghamton University. She was an associate editor of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology. Heather has published a number of legal articles.
A person answers our phone.
888-733-5299
255 Washington Avenue #108, Albany, NY 12205
Fax: 518-862-1551 wredlich@gmail.com
The Redlich Law Firm
Albany NY DWI Attorneys
Call : 888-733-5299
DWI FAQs
Call : 888-733-5299
Every case is different and there are no guarantees. Below are rough answers to some questions we hear frequently.
Q: Will we be able to get a plea bargain?
A: Usually we can get a first-DUI charge reduced to a DWAI violation. In some counties, prosecutors will not reduce a DWI if your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is particularly high. The individual prosecutor may have a set number in mind. For some that means over 0.15. For others it might be 0.18 or 0.20. Others will agree to a plea bargain regardless of the BAC. Other factors also might prevent a plea bargain, such as if the charge arose out of a serious accident, if you have a criminal record, or if it is not the first DWI on your record. In such cases, we may be able to get a reduction later if we can find any weakness in the prosecution’s case.
Q: Do I need a DUI lawyer?
A: No. If you want to plead guilty to the charge, or if you want to try to negotiate for yourself, you do not need a lawyer. In many courts, we will get you a better deal than you will get for yourself. Read more about this on our "Why Hire A DWI Lawyer?" page.
Q: Do I have to come to court?
A: Sometimes. Some out-of-state or out-of-area clients might not have to come to Court if we appear for you. Other than that, DUI defendants have to come to Court. You will have to surrender your license, and the judge will want to make sure you understand what you have to do. We have represented clients from other states and distant parts of New York State (such as New York City) without our clients appearing. Many judges are uncomfortable with it, but so far no one has refused to allow it. We've even done it with a local client, where he was out of state visiting his mother in the hospital. But generally, for local clients, you will have to appear.
Q: What DUI courts do you cover?
A: We handle DUI Law in all courts in the Capital Region. See our DWI Courts page for a list of the busier courts in the area. We are willing to travel, but our fee goes up based on the travel time. In most cases it will make more sense for you to hire a local attorney. Call us if you’re not sure. 888-733-5299.
Q: Will my insurance rates go up?
A: Probably for New York drivers, and maybe for out-of-state drivers. A DUI conviction is reported on your New York driving record. If your insurance company finds out, your rates will almost certainly go up. In some cases your insurance company will drop you as a customer and you may have to enter the assigned risk pool, where rates are dramatically higher. It is possible that your insurance company will not find out, and then your rates shouldn’t go up. If you are from out-of-state, a New York DUI conviction may not affect your license or insurance, except in Quebec and Ontario. In our experience, reporting of DUI matters to other states is inconsistent. They are supposed to be reported through the Drivers License Compact, but many of our clients have not been affected.
Q: Can we beat the charge?
A: Maybe. Most DUI charges are difficult to beat and it will cost a lot more to fight than to make a deal. The police usually do a good job and the hard truth is, most defendants are guilty. Still, the police sometimes slip up. They may not have had a good reason to stop your car. They may not have had enough evidence to require a BAC test. They may have done the tests wrong. You may have credible witnesses who can say you were not intoxicated. You should go over the facts of your case with an experienced DUI lawyer. In many cases the only reason not to fight is the cost of our fees. We will usually (but there is no guarantee) be able to get you the same deal after a suppression hearing and there's always a chance that something will go well for us at the hearing.
Q: Does it make sense to fight the charge?
<>A: There are a variety of circumstances where it makes more sense to fight the charge, at least through a motion and suppression hearing:
-- Where the only offer is to plead guilty to the charge (you have nothing to lose by fighting)
-- Where the BAC is 0.09 or below, and especially at 0.06 or 0.05 (low BACs create a number of issues)
-- Where the BAC is 0.18 or above (the reduction from this charge is not that great, so you have little to lose)
-- Where there was an accident, especially if someone was injured (you may get sued and/or charged with something more serious)
-- Where there are other significant problems with the prosecution's case
-- Where you are licensed in another state (various reasons)
Recent examples of DUI cases we are fighting include where our client was stopped by police for running a stop sign in a parking lot, which is not illegal (update: we won this one); where our client was sleeping at home when the police came to get him (update - we got this one reduced but preserved the right to appeal - appeal is pending); a few DWAI cases where the BAC was 0.5 (dismissed) or 0.6 (2 cases, both pending); a case where we had little chance but fought because the offer was terrible (officer didn't show up for the hearing - case dismissed - our client was very lucky on this one); a case where our client was sitting in his car at home and hadn't driven the car; etc.
Q: What do you charge?
A: For simple cases we charge $1000 flat fee to negotiate a deal, more for more serious cases. In some cases, it makes sense to fight a DUI case. We charge at least $2500 up front for these. Read more on our Fees & Payment page.
Q: What’s the difference between DUI, DWI, and DWAI?
A: DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated, which is either a specific numerical BAC result of 0.08 or higher (V&T Law Section 1192(2)), or a general notion that you’re intoxicated, proven by testimony and other evidence of the nature of your impairment (1192(3)). DWAI stands for Driving While Ability Impaired (1192(1)), and is generally considered to be when the BAC result is higher than 0.05.
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence , and is a general term in the US for the subject. The term DUI is not commonly used in the legal system in New York State.
Under V&T Law 1193, first and second convictions for DWAI are violations - they are not crimes and you cannot get a criminal record for a violation. A third DWAI is a misdemeanor. A first DWI is a misdemeanor.
For other questions, please call us at 888-733-5299. The phone call and initial phone consultation are free.
The largest traffic courts we cover are Albany, Schenectady, Guilderland, Saratoga Springs, Colonie, Troy, Rotterdam, Bethlehem, Clifton Park, Princetown and Duanesburg.
Call : 888-733-5299
Albany DWI Attorneys
Call : 888-733-5299
About Our Albany DWI Attorneys
Warren Redlich is the principal DWI attorney in the firm. Stacey DeLoach joined our firm in March of 2009. She manages the paperwork on our DWI and criminal cases and also appears in Court.
Warren is a litigator and is well known for his work in the courtroom. He won two awards as Allstate's top trial attorney in upstate New York and one award as their top attorney in the northeastern United States. He has been defending DWI cases since 2003, and continues to handle personal injury as well.
A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, Warren has a Master's degree from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematical Economics from Rice University. He served as Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court from 2000-2003. Warren opened the Redlich Law Firm in May of 2003.
Warren is admitted to practice in all New York State Courts. He is also admitted to practice in federal courts in the Southern and Northern districts of New York.
Warren speaks and reads English, Japanese, Spanish and French. Aside from English, his strongest conversational language is Japanese and his strongest language for reading is Spanish.
A person answers our phone.
888-733-5299
255 Washington Avenue #108, Albany, NY 12205
Fax: 518-862-1551 wredlich@gmail.com
The Redlich Law Firm
Albany NY DWI Attorneys
Call : 888-733-5299
DUI FAQCall : 888-733-5299
NY DUI FAQ
- Protect your license and insurance
- Don't get convicted of a crime
- Make sure you get the best advice and representation
Call us at 888-733-5299
Every case is different and there are no guarantees.
Below are rough answers to some questions we hear frequently.
Q: Why should I fight a NY DUI charge against me?
A: The consequences of a DUI conviction, even for the lower DWAI offense, are severe.
The fines are high. Your license will be suspended or revoked. Insurance rates can go through the roof.
There may be other consequences. For example, having a DWAI or DWI on your record
may hurt you when you apply for jobs. It can impair travel too.
We had a client who had problems getting into Canada because of a DWAI conviction.
By fighting a DUI charge, you may be able to get a better result.
Q: What are the consequences of fighting?
A: The biggest short-term consequence of fighting a DWI case in NY is the "prompt suspension law." If your BAC is 0.08 or higher, the judge may suspend your license while the case is pending. For the first 30 days after that we can usually get you a "hardship privilege" that lets you drive to and from work (but not for work). After that you can get a conditional license from the DMV that lets you do most of your regular driving. Leisure driving is limited. And you don't get credit for this time if you later get suspended.
Our fees are also more expensive for fighting a DWI. Another thing we've noticed is that a lot of our clients get tired of the fight. It can take a long time. We've had cases go well over a year. It can be difficult to have that guillotine hanging over your head for so long.
Q: Will we be able to get a plea bargain?
A: Usually we can get a first-DUI charge reduced to a DWAI violation. However, if your BAC is 0.18 or above, you will probably be charged with Aggravated DWI, and the only offer is likely to be a reduction to DWI, which is still a misdemeanor. Other factors also might prevent a plea bargain, such as if the charge arose out of a serious accident, if you have a criminal record, or if it is not the first DWI on your record. In such cases, we may be able to get a reduction later if we can find any weakness in the prosecution’s case.
Note that in Albany County and some other counties, there may be no reductions offered for certain BAC levels.
Q: Do I need a DUI lawyer?
A: No, you don't "need" a lawyer. If you want to plead guilty to the charge, or if you want to try to negotiate for yourself, you do not need a lawyer. However, in many courts, we will get you a better deal than you will get for yourself. Also, we will be able to make sure the process goes smoothly, reducing or eliminating any time period where you will be unable to drive due to suspensions. Read more about this on our "Why Hire A DWI Lawyer?" page.
Q: Do I have to come to court?
A: Sometimes. Some out-of-state or out-of-area clients might not have to come to Court if we appear for you. Other than that, DUI defendants usually have to come to Court. You will have to surrender your license, and the judge will want to make sure you understand what you have to do. We have represented clients from other states and distant parts of New York State (such as New York City) without our clients appearing. Many judges are uncomfortable with it, but so far no one has refused to allow it. We've even done it with a local client, where he was out of state visiting his mother in the hospital. But generally, for local clients, you will have to appear.
Q: What DUI courts do you cover?
A: We handle DUI Law in all courts in the greater Capital Region. See our DWI Courts page for a list of the busier courts in the area. We are willing to travel, but our fee goes up based on the travel time. In most cases it will make more sense for you to hire a local attorney. Call us if you’re not sure. 888-733-5299.
Q: Will my insurance rates go up?
A: Probably for New York drivers, and also for out-of-state drivers. A DUI conviction is reported on your New York driving record. If your insurance company finds out, your rates will almost certainly go up. In some cases your insurance company will drop you as a customer and you may have to enter the assigned risk pool, where rates are dramatically higher. It is possible that your insurance company will not find out, and then your rates shouldn’t go up.
If you are from out-of-state, a New York DUI conviction may affect your license or insurance. In our experience, reporting of DUI matters to other states is inconsistent. They are supposed to be reported through the Drivers License Compact. Some of our clients have been affected, and some haven't.
Q: Can we beat the charge?
A: Maybe. The police may not have had a good reason to stop your car. They may not have had enough evidence to require a BAC test. They may have done the tests wrong. You may have credible witnesses who can say you were not intoxicated. You should go over the facts of your case with an experienced DUI lawyer. In many cases the only reason not to fight is the cost of our fees. We will usually (but there is no guarantee) be able to get you the same deal after a suppression hearing and there's always a chance that something will go well for us at the hearing.
Q: Does it make sense to fight the charge?
A: In most circumstances it makes more sense to fight the charge, at least through a motion and suppression hearing, especially where:
-- The only offer is to plead guilty to the charge (you have nothing to lose by fighting)
-- The BAC is 0.09 or below, and especially at 0.06 or 0.05 (low BACs create a number of issues)
-- The BAC is 0.18 or above (the reduction from this charge is not that great, so you have little to lose)
-- There was an accident, especially if someone was injured (you may get sued and/or charged with something more serious)
-- There are other significant problems with the prosecution's case
-- You are licensed in another state (various reasons)
Recent examples of DUI cases we are fighting include where our client was stopped by police for running a stop sign in a parking lot, which is not illegal (update: we won this one); a "checkpoint" stop; a few DWAI cases where the BAC was 0.05 (dismissed) or 0.06 (2 cases, both pending); a case where we had little chance but fought because the offer was terrible (officer didn't show up for the hearing - case dismissed - our client was very lucky on this one); a case where our client was sitting in his car at home and hadn't driven the car; etc.
Q: What do you charge?
A: Our fees range from $1000 to $10,000 or more. Read more on our Fees & Payment page.
Q: What’s the difference between DUI, DWI, and DWAI?
A: DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated, which is either a specific numerical BAC result of 0.08 or higher (V&T Law Section 1192(2)), or a general notion that you’re intoxicated, proven by testimony and other evidence of the nature of your impairment (1192(3)). DWAI stands for Driving While Ability Impaired (1192(1)), and is generally considered to be when the BAC result is higher than 0.05 but below 0.08, though it is actually not that simple. New York also added a new offense early in 1997, called Aggravated DWI, which is where the BAC is 0.18 or above.
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence , and is a general term in the US for the subject. The term DUI is not commonly used in the legal system in New York State.
Under V&T Law 1193, first and second convictions for DWAI are violations - they are not crimes and you cannot get a criminal record for a violation. A third DWAI is a misdemeanor. A first DWI is a misdemeanor, while a second DWI is a felony.
Call : 888-733-5299
Why a DWI Lawyer?Call : 888-733-5299
Why Hire a DWI Lawyer?
Our DWI lawyers will save you money and time, and in most cases keep you from getting a criminal record. In some cases we can get you a deal where you would plead to a violation. This makes sense for some of our clients.
Due to changes in NY DWI laws, we now advise most of our clients to fight DWI cases. The same deal you might get in the beginning is almost always available later. By fighting, you get yourself the chance of a better deal.
A DWI charge is a misdemeanor. If you plead guilty to a misdemeanor, you will have a criminal record. Some prosecutors will require you to plead to the misdemeanor if you don’t have a lawyer.
Most of all, you will know that your case is being handled correctly. And we are accessible. A person answers our phone 24 hours a day. In most cases, it may be wise to fight your DWI charge. You should review the facts of your case with Warren (888-733-5299).
DWI charges have become a very serious matter, costing a first-time offender as much as $5000 or more in fines, surcharges, higher insurance premiums, other charges, and the prospect of a criminal record. With that much at stake, it’s worth it to hire a DWI lawyer.
Call now. The phone call and initial phone consultation are free.
Please call us to discuss your case before making any payment: 888-733-5299
A person answers our phone.
888-733-5299
255 Washington Ave. Ext., Suite #108, Albany, NY 12205
Fax: 518-862-1551 wredlich@gmail.com
The Redlich Law Firm
Albany DWI Lawyer
Call : 888-733-5299
Aggravated DWICall : 888-733-5299
Aggravated DWI in New York State
Late in 2006, New York State passed a new law establishing an Aggravated DWI offense, which applies when the blood-alcohol content is found to be 0.18 or higher.
The "aggravated" offense carries stiffer penalties. The fines are higher, and the licensing consequences are more severe.
Perhaps the most significant impact of the new law concerns plea bargaining. It is quite common for an attorney to get a DWAI violation deal for someone charged with a DWI. DWI is a misdemeanor - a crime - while DWAI is only a violation, and is not considered a crime in New York. With the aggravated DWI charge, it is now nearly impossible to get a plea deal to the DWAI violation. The only offer will be a reduction to the DWI misdemeanor, and thus a criminal record.
In Albany County, the District Attorney has a policy that dramatically limits plea bargaining for cases where the BAC is 0.20 or higher. The "offer" is to plead guilty with 3 years probation. A defendant in this situation has little to lose by fighting.
We generally believe it is wise to fight an Aggravated DWI charge initially, making motions and going through a suppression hearing. In most cases the plea bargain to the lesser DWI misdemeanor will still be available after the hearing (though there is certainly no guarantee of this, and for that matter, no guarantee of results at all). The police often make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes will be enough to win the case or persuade the prosecutor to agree to a better deal.
We handle DWI cases, including Aggravated DWI, in the Albany Schenectady Troy Saratoga area. Call us at 888-733-5299. A person answers our phone 24 hours a day.
We deal well with police and prosecutors in all the area courts. To learn more about DWI and what we can do for you, click on the links on the left side of the page.
The call is toll-free and there is no charge for the initial phone consultation.
Call : 888-733-5299