Syracuse Criminal Law Blog

Older drivers may process alcohol differently

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

If you have been a drinker throughout your adult life, you may think you have a good idea of how much alcohol you can consume without becoming intoxicated. You should realize, though, that the human body processes alcohol differently after age 65.

New York has some tough penalties for drunk driving, especially when doing so results in a serious injury. While you may never have had a DWI charge in the past, metabolic changes in your body may cause your blood alcohol concentration to surpass the legal limit. Put simply, consuming the same number of drinks before driving may now land you in legal trouble.

How even one drink can lead to a DWI

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

You hear it over and over: Never get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol. It may seem like such generic advice that you disregard it. After all, how harmful can just one drink be? It would be so inconvenient to always have to wait to drive or catch a ride after only one serving of an alcoholic beverage.

What is even more inconvenient, however, is having to deal with drunk driving charges. Before you decide to drive after light drinking, consider how even one drink can land you in trouble.

Possible record options for a New York DWI

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Friday, August 30, 2019.

People do not usually intend to drive while intoxicated. However, it is not uncommon for parties to underestimate their intoxication level.

If you or a loved one have a DWI on your record, it can have lasting effects on your future. In the state of New York, there are only a few options available for removing this particular infraction.

What can you expect regarding license suspension for DWI?

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Sunday, August 18, 2019.

If you are a resident of Syracuse or a neighboring area, an arrest for drunk driving will include the loss of your driving privileges.

When will this happen? How can you get your driver’s license back? How will you get around in the meantime?

How do people get involved in white-collar crime?

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Society may have a stereotype in mind when it comes to a white-collar criminal. Likely the image is of a middle-aged white male in a high-ranking position greedily stealing hundreds of thousands to fund his lavish lifestyle. While this certainly is a common story, it is not the full picture.

Many people get caught up in white-collar crimes unintentionally. How do everyday employees find themselves involved in theft and facing criminal charges?

What are signs that an employee is embezzling?

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

As an employer, you must be meticulous in your hiring. If you bring on the wrong person, you may have someone on your team who embezzles company funds. Your employees should be productive, lawful and beneficial to your business. Anyone you entrust to manage or monitor funds should be reliable.

But, of course, not all employee theft is obvious. Sometimes, even a seemingly trustworthy employee can commit embezzlement. Here are some warning signs that one of your employees may be embezzling money.

Leandra’s Law, NSC and MADD drunk driving views, and the IID

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Saturday, May 25, 2019.

Some experts, including those at the National Safety Council and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, believe not enough is happening to stop drunk driving.

The state of New York has passed stringent legislation, such as Leandra’s Law, to keep drunk drivers off the road. Among the penalties for DWI is installation of an ignition interlock device.

Can you lose financial assistance from a DWI?

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Getting behind the wheel while intoxicated can lead to disastrous consequences. Recently, an Auburn man drove drunk and took his vehicle off the road. The man survived the crash, but police arrested him for DWI.

In addition to fines and jail time, a DWI conviction can lead to consequences that follow individuals for the rest of their life. Students have the risk of losing academic scholarships. Each scholarship has its own rules, but students can lose the one way to pay for a college education due to one mistake.

3 popular drugs on college campuses

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

College is an exciting and overwhelming time for young adults. It is an experience that provides students with many opportunities for discovery and exploration. For many young adults, it is the first foray into adulthood. With this newfound independence and freedom, experimentation with drugs may take place.

It is no surprise that college is a time during which many young adults use, misuse and abuse drugs and alcohol. This behavior can come with a variety of health risks, educational repercussions and criminal punishments. Here is a list of the most commonly used and abused drugs on college campuses.

4 reasons breathalyzer tests give false-positive readings

On behalf of George Hildebrandt of George F. Hildebrandt on Friday, March 29, 2019.

Few things can ruin an otherwise fun night on the town faster than flashing lights in your rearview mirror. If officers suspect you are over New York’s legal limit for blood alcohol concentration, 0.08 percent, they may ask you to take a roadside breathalyzer test. If the test confirms officers’ suspicions, you may find yourself in a jail cell.

Like all machines, breathalyzer tests are not perfect. If you think the test you took gave a false-positive reading, attacking its validity may be an effective strategy for avoiding serious legal consequences. Here are four reasons breathalyzer tests may issue a false positive: