Man Guilty of Hit-and-Run DUI Case in New York Sentenced to One Year

October 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) Dr. James Corasanti, a physician from New York, was recently sentenced in a driving while intoxicated case (DWI). During the summer of 2011, the physician was involved in a car accident; the charges allege that his vehicle struck and killed an 18-year-old skateboarder and that Corasanti left the scene. After deliberating for almost 12 hours, a jury acquitted Corasanti of the most serious charges connected to the accident.

The charges associated with the DWI case included vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with evidence. The felony counts could have resulted in up to 23 years' imprisonment.

Corasanti's defense team argued that although the accident was tragic, it was not criminal. The physician, who had a history in the community of helping people and saving lives, argued that he was unaware he hit someone. Had he known, the defense team argued, he would have stopped at the scene to offer medical assistance.

Although the physician was acquitted of the most serious charges, the jury found him guilty of DWI. In August 2012, the County Court judge sentenced Dr. Corasanti to a maximum term of one year in prison in connection with the common-law DWI charge. In addition to prison time, the Court fined Dr. Corasanti $1,000 and revoked his driver's license for six months.

New York DWI Law

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle when impaired or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. In New York, one definition of "intoxication" is having a blood-alcohol content, or BAC, of 0.08 percent or greater.

DWI penalties in New York can be severe. If charged and convicted of a first-offense DWI, a person can receive: i) up to one year in jail; ii) three years of probation; iii) up to $1,000 in fines; iv) revocation of the driver's license for at least six months; v) revocation of vehicle registration for at least six months; vi) a $370 surcharge; vii) a $25 crime victim assistance fee; viii) $250/year driver responsibility assessment for three years; ix) attendance at a victim impact panel; and x) installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) for at least six months at the driver's expense.

An IID requires the driver to provide a breath sample before the vehicle starts. The vehicle will only start if the breath sample is below a set BAC reading.

In other cases, a felony charge can apply, as when a child 15 years or younger is in the car when the driver commits a drug- or alcohol-related driving offense.

Since these penalties are severe, it's important to take DWI charges seriously. If you or a loved one is charged with an alcohol-related driving offense, contact an experienced New York DWI/DUI defense attorney to better ensure that your legal rights are protected.

Article provided by Bruce Yerman, Attorney at Law
Visit us at http://www.criminal-defense-law-nyc.com