D.W.I. & Ignition Interlock
D.W.I. & Ignition Interlock
There are over 400 D.W.I. Offenders currently being supervised by the Oneida County Probation Department and with each case there comes a strict level of accountability and strong punitive measures enacted for the purpose of attempting to prevent additional D.W.I. charges.
Accountability and Punitive Measures
- Court Fines: can be from $500 to $5,000 depending on the conviction and the judge
- Court Fees: in addition to the fine, which is a punitive measure imposed by the court, fees are the costs of the court passed on to the Offender and they are $325 for a Misdemeanor and $520 for a Felony
- Probation Surcharge: if an Offender is sentenced to a period of Probation supervision for either a Misdemeanor or a Felony there is a $30 per month surcharge until the Probation term is complete.
- DMV Fees: When an individual is convicted of D.W.I. in the form of a Misdemeanor or a Felony, their license is revoked for a period of six (6) months for a Misdemeanor and twelve (12) months for a Felony. If the individual is convicted of Aggravated D.W.I., a blood alcohol content of .18 or higher, there is an additional six (6) month revocation added to each DMV sanction. If an individual is convicted of D.W.A.I., the license is suspended for a period of six (6) months. **For more information regarding the difference between revocation and suspension, please contact the New York State DMV. In addition to the court fines, court fees, and Probation Surcharge, when an Offender is convicted of a D.W.I. or D.W.A.I, the DMV will assess a $750 Risk Assessment Fee, $250 for three years; if an individual refuses to submit to a breathalyzer when stopped by law enforcement, the DMV will assess a $750 fee if the individual is convicted which will be added to all the other fees / fines / surcharges.
- Probation Supervision: An Offender convicted of D.W.I. as a Misdemeanor can be sentenced to a period of Probation supervision for three (3) years and for an Offender convicted of D.W.I. as a Felony can be sentenced to a period of five (5) years. The term of Probation is mandatory, but not all convictions result in a Probation sentence.
In addition to reporting to Probation an Offender is absolutely forbidden to consume, purchase, or be in possession of any alcoholic beverage. Any deviation from this condition can and most likely will result in a Violation of Probation petition being brought before the sentencing judge. Offender’s on Probation are also forbidden from entering any establishments where the primary business is the serving and consumption of alcohol, which include bars, sports bars, night clubs, etc. An Offender on Probation must submit to an alco-sensor screen, breathalyzer test, at any time deemed necessary by the Probation Department. Any D.W.I. Felony conviction results in forfeiture of the right to possess or control a firearm which includes: shotguns, hunting rifles, black powder and muzzleloaders, or antique firearms. **An Offender may still hunt with a bow.
Any Offender sentenced to a period of Probation supervision should be aware that the Oneida County Probation Department conducts “Operation Nightwatch” on a regular basis. This focused effort utilizes cooperation between the Oneida County Probation Department and local bars, sports bars, and clubs as Probation Officer and members of other local law enforcement conduct bar checks throughout Oneida County on frequent occasions. Any Offender found to be in a bar, sports bar, club or other establishment precluded by their Conditions of Probation, will be violated and referred back to the sentencing court immediately with a term of incarceration to be enforced, without exception.
Any individual found guilty of D.W.I. with a juvenile / child under the age of 16 in the State of New York is an automatic felony, regardless of the blood alcohol content or the number of previous D.W.I. convictions as result of the recently enacted Leandra’s Law.
Any individual convicted of D.W.I. under the age of 21 years old is given a mandatory 3 Year Probation Supervision sentence; reduction of the charges is not an option.
The presiding judge in Oneida County for all D.W.I.’s does NOT grant early discharges for Felony D.W.I. convictions, no exceptions.
An Offender is required to attend a Victim Impact Panel, which also requires a basic fee to be paid.
An Offender is required to obtain an alcohol evaluation within 60 days of their sentencing.
If an Offender is believed to have consumed alcohol or been found in an establishment that serves alcohol, another accountability measure may be imposed without additional consent from the Probationer or permission needed by the sentencing court. This measure is referred to as S.C.R.A.M., which stands for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor. The SCRAM monitor is an ankle bracelet secured to the Offender’s leg and monitors for the presence of alcohol through the glands in the skin. The SCRAM bracelet is an alternative to incarceration but requires the Offender to pay approximately $9 per day for its use. Failure to pay the necessary amount may also result in a violation of Probation petition being filed against the Offender, regardless of their compliance otherwise. If you have any questions regarding the SCRAM bracelet or need to contact someone regarding their services and / or fees, you may visit their website: http://alcoholmonitoring.com/ - with a contact person being Marcella Hoyos.
An Offender is NOT permitted to have any vehicle registered in their name unless Ignition Interlock is installed on the vehicle, regardless of the status of the Offender’s license.
Ignition Interlock
In addition to the above mentioned costs and punitive measures, any Offender convicted of D.W.I, either a Misdemeanor or a Felony, and is sentenced to a Conditional Discharge or a term of Probation, installation of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle they own and / or operate is mandatory, without exception. There are installation fees, monthly fees, and additional accountability measures in place for the ignition interlock device and its associated maintenance.
