New York DWI Lawyer Blog
Earlier this month, Detroit Tigers All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera pled no contest to a drunk driving charge in Fort Pierce, Florida. By accepting a plea in the case, Cabrera will be able to avoid the possibility of jail time and get a dismissal of other charges surrounding his DWI arrest, including resisting arrest and having an open container in his vehicle.
Back in February of 2011, Mr. Cabrera was stopped by police in Fort Pierce, Florida at the side of a road with smoke coming out of the engine of his Land Rover. When police officers asked Cabrera to step out of the vehicle, it was reported that he grabbed a bottle of Scotch and took a drink before he complied. The officers noted that Cabrera had blood shot, watery eyes, and slurred speech.
Cabrera was apparently belligerent with the officers, and refused to take a breathalyzer. According to Cabrera’s attorney, the primary motivation for the plea deal was a concern that if they fought the case to trial, this would interfere with the 2012 baseball season, which commences with spring training next month.
By pleading to the DWI charges, Cabrera will be sentenced to a year of probation; a six month suspension of his driver’s license; fines of more than $1,400.00, required attendance at a Drinking Driver’s Program and a Victim’s Impact Panel sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Had Mr. Cabrera been found guilty of DWI charges in New York, he would be facing a six month revocation of his driver’s license; a $500.00 fine and mandatory New York State surcharge of $400.00; be required to install and maintain an ignition interlock device in any vehicle he owned or operated for one year; be screened for substance abuse, be required to attend a 7 week Drinking Driver Program sponsored by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (known as the “DDP”), and also need to attend a Victim Impact Panel. Further, he would be facing an additional fine of $750.00 known as a “Driver’s Responsibility Assessment” from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
With regard to the refusal to take a chemical test, if Mr. Cabrera was found to have refused this test in New York, he would be subject to a one year revocation of his driver’s license, fines of at least $500.00, and a restriction on his ability to obtain what is known as a “hardship license”, which is granted in certain circumstances during the pendency of a DWI case until its conclusion.
By accepting the plea, Mr. Cabrera was also able to obtain a dismissal of the criminal resisting arrest charges and the violation of having an open container of alcohol.
Contact the Westchester County DWI Attorneys online or toll free at (914) 428-7386 for a free initial consultation to discuss your DWI, traffic infraction or other criminal charges, your legal rights, and options.