Killoran Law P.C.

If you’re looking for criminal attorneys in Long Island, it’s important to select someone with the skills to handle your case. Here are the important qualities your DUI lawyer should have when they represent your case.
 
They have the experience
Choosing a criminal attorney that does not have experience in DUI defense is a mistake that can cost you. A “jack of all trades, master of none” is not the kind of representation you need when you’re looking at stiff fines or jail time for a DUI offense. For the proper representation in court, look for criminal attorneys in Long Island that have a track record in DUI law.
 
In 2017, there were nearly 450,000 arrests in New York State alone. Finding the right criminal attorney will ensure you’re getting the best representation in a court of law.
 
They will be informative
You should feel completely safe around your criminal defense attorney. They should be able to answer any question you throw at them without hesitation; after all, this is your life and you need to understand the legal proceedings of your case.
 
They should offer no hidden fees
A good, trustworthy attorney will not blindside you with hidden fees or unexpected charges. Before any decisions are made, your attorney should inform you before they proceed. DUI lawyers can be expensive enough without the surprise of unexpected fees. Your attorney should explain their billing process, including whether they charge a flat rate or an hourly fee. Discuss the forms of payment they accept to manage your finances during the process.
 
They want to fight hard for you
Your gut will tell you this one: if you feel like your attorney isn’t doing their best job representing you, it’s time to look at other criminal attorneys in Long Island. Even if your lawyer has the experience necessary, a lawyer who has a nonchalant attitude toward your well-being is not the type of criminal defense your case requires. A good lawyer should do everything in their power to make sure you’re well-represented.
 
A good criminal attorney in Long Island will give you the proper advice to cope with the aftermath of a DUI record and provide professional representation in court. When you’re looking for the best DUI lawyer in Long Island, consider calling Killoran Law. Their professional staff will ensure you get the best legal protection and representation when you’re in need.

Picking the right DUI lawyer in Long Island can seem like a daunting task, especially when so many other problems are stacked on your plate. However, choosing the right criminal attorney can be the difference between going to jail or going home. Finding a DUI attorney is a necessity; here are the best qualifications to look for when you have to choose the right DUI lawyer for your case.
 
Experience
Choosing a greenhorn to represent your case when you’re pulled over on a DUI charge might be a good learning experience for them, but it won’t help your case. When you get pulled over, you want the best DUI lawyer in Long Island to ensure you’re getting the DUI defense you need. The United States doesn’t hesitate to slap on the shackles: our probation rate is over 400% higher than similar rates seen in some European countries. Look for lawyers near you with a reliable track record who have practiced DUI law for at least five years.
 
Recommendation
If your DUI lawyer in Long Island isn’t recommended online or in person, it’s best to go with a lawyer that has gotten positive feedback. This is a great way to start your hunt for a DUI attorney, but always trust your gut when you meet with them in person. If your personalities clash or you don’t feel like your attorney is listening to you, you’ll have an unhappy experience. Even though customer service may be the last thing on your mind when you’re looking for a lawyer, your criminal defense will simply do a better job when they get along with their client. Law firms that don’t treat their clients with respect and care will make you unwilling to lend them your trust when they represent your case.
 
Specialization
If you visit a family lawyer and expect to get proper defense against your DUI claim, you’re going to have a bad time. Practice area is key when you’re searching for a lawyer to represent your case. Look for DUI, DUII, or a DWI lawyer when you need the proper criminal defense. They’re the ones who are well-versed in the type of law you need.
 
Choosing a DUI lawyer in Long Island is a difficult task, especially when you’re experiencing significant amounts of stress. Call an experienced DUI lawyer in Long Island: Killoran Law has the experience, expertise, and reliability you need to ensure your case is solved.

If you’re the driver of a motor vehicle, it’s likely that you’re going to receive one or two traffic tickets in your lifetime. Here are some of the more common traffic violations you can be charged with and how to avoid them.

Speeding
Even if you’re driving less than 10 mph over the designated legal speed limit, this can result in two points being added to your license and a fine of nearly $500. Speed limits are there for a reason and following them is the best way to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. Avoid a traffic ticket by following the speed limit and being wary of any changes that occur while you’re on the road. Many times, speeders are caught in work zones and on highways; take extra care in being aware of your surroundings and never speed in a work zone.

Running a red light/stop sign
You must come to a complete stop if you are at a red light or a stop sign. Many people are ticketed when they “roll” through a stop sign since there is no traffic at an intersection. While you weren’t trying to put anyone in danger, it’s always necessary to look around for pedestrians and bicyclists you may not have noticed unless you came to a complete stop. Additionally, you should always look for signs proclaiming, “No Turn On Red.” If you turn on red when you cannot, or if you turn on red legally but fail to stop completely before you turn, these can also result in a traffic violation. Be sure to signal and come to a complete stop when you reach a red light or a stop sign.

Drunk driving
If you drink and drive, your reaction time and judgment while driving will result in you getting pulled over. Though you get charged with a DUI when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over .08%, you can get charged with an aggravated DWI (A-DWI) if your BAC is over .18% or more. This can result in license suspension, jail time, and up to six points on your license. Avoid traffic tickets like these by calling a taxi service or relying on a sober friend to pick you up. Never drive drunk. If you’re charged with a DUI, seek a DUI lawyer immediately to understand your rights and handle the conviction process.

Even if you haven’t been charged with a DUI, it’s important to know what could happen once you get on the road. If you’re convicted with a DUI or DWI in Long Island, here’s what will happen next and what you should do.

You will be arrested
If you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over .08% then you can get convicted with a DUI in all 50 states. In the event you fail a breathalyzer, you’ll be placed into the back of a cop car, your car will be towed, and you will have to enter the booking process. The booking process constitutes a mugshot and your fingerprints will be taken. You might have to stay in jail unless a friend or relative bails you out (pays your fine) and drives you home. However, this doesn’t mean that you’re out of legal trouble.

You will have to go to court and face penalties
When you’re arrested, you will have to appear in court on a specified date in order to be convicted of DUI charges. It is necessary to obtain a DUI lawyer or another criminal attorney in Long Island to defend your case, especially if you’re under the legal drinking age of 21. Nearly 11% of accidents influenced by drugs or alcohol that resulted in death were because of drivers under the age of 21. Your criminal attorney in Long Island will help you understand the local laws regarding your conviction and help you receive a lighter sentence.

Missing your court date is a serious offense. Be sure to attend on the day of court and dress in a professional manner before the judge. In the event that you’re charged with a DUI or DWI, you may lose your driver’s license, serve jail time, pay a fine, and go to school for drunk driving prevention education.

What you should do
After you hire a reliable criminal attorney in Long Island, make your social media accounts private. Even if you have never posted anything “bad” on social media, the prosecutor can use anything you have posted as incriminating evidence against you, especially if you have photos or posts from the night of the arrest.

You should also find a reliable witness to testify on your behalf, preferably one that was with you around the time of your traffic violation. This can strengthen your argument against the case and prove to the jury that you’re innocent of the crime. Talk to your DUI lawyer in Long Island to discuss your case and assess your options. DUI convictions can be scary, but utilizing a trained professional is the first step to understanding the process.

As any DUI lawyer in Long Island knows, this area has become notorious for drunk driving incidents. A little more than a decade ago, Suffolk County was one of the worst areas in all of New York State for alcohol-related crashes. In 2007, there were over 1,000 drunk driving accidents in our county. While a lot of legislation has been passed since then — including Leandra’s Law, which classifies any alcohol-related offenses involving a child younger than 16 years old in a vehicle as class E felonies — drunk driving is still a major problem in this area.
 
As a result, local police have made a concerted effort to catch drunk drivers and keep the public safe. That makes it a lot more likely that you could be pulled over on suspicion of a DUI. Although you should make every effort to never get behind the wheel while intoxicated, you should also try to remember what to do — and what not to do — if you are indeed stopped by police. By following these tips, you’ll be able to work with your DUI lawyers to ensure your rights are protected.
 
When Stopped For a DUI, Do…

• Be respectful: As a general rule, always be respectful to the officer pulling you over. Acting defiant or belligerent in any way will not help you and will make it harder for your DUI lawyers to create a viable DUI defense in court. Follow all instructions from the officer and do not mouth off. While you are not obligated to say or do certain things, this interaction should be civil in every way.

 

• Have documents ready: If you’re pulled over, you should have your driver’s license, registration, and insurance information handy in a location you can easily access. Make sure you have these documents at the ready at all times (and that you know where they are!). You should have them out on the passenger seat to present to the officer when he comes up to your vehicle.

 

• Stay in the car: Unless you are instructed otherwise by the officer, you should remain in your vehicle. Permitting you pull over to a safe spot, you should put your car in park, turn on your interior dome light, and place both hands on the wheel where the officer can see them. Do not make any sudden moves or act suspiciously in any way.

 
If Pulled Over For Drunk Driving, Don’t…

• Volunteer too much: As mentioned earlier, you should be courteous to police officers. You should not, however, volunteer unnecessary information or go into too much detail. You are not obligated to answer any questions before you are arrested and without your attorney present. Thinking you can talk yourself out of a situation like this will likely result in providing the officers more information to use against you.

 

• Lie or underestimate: An officer will likely ask you whether you’ve been drinking and/or how much you’ve had to drink. You might assume that underplaying the situation will help you, but the “I’ve had only one beer” route really isn’t a good one. It confirms that you have alcohol in your system (no matter how little). Instead, you can politely decline to answer or state that you can’t remember. You should not be combative, but it’s best that you don’t provide them with verbal ammunition.

 

• Submit to roadside exercises: Some DUI lawyers disagree, but generally, partaking in those sobriety exercises will just make matters worse. You may have to submit to a breathalyzer in some cases, but other tests given by officers prior to arrest aren’t likely to have a positive outcome for the driver — even if they have a legal BAC. While most states have implied consent laws, that doesn’t mean you’re forced to walk in a straight line down the road. These tests are strictly voluntary, so you may want to exercise your rights here.

 
Whether you’re dealing with a minor traffic violation or are facing a DUI charge, you should have a reputable lawyer on your side to help you through this process. To find out more, please contact us today.

Just because you are pulled over and charged with a DUI does not guarantee that you are guilty. You have a chance to present a DUI defense in court to save you from a felony or misdemeanor. Here are some of the most common DUI defense strategies used by criminal attorneys to help you be found innocent in a DUI case.
 
You weren’t read your Miranda rights
Under the Fifth Amendment, police are required to administer the Miranda rights if an arrest is to be made. If the officer does not read you your Miranda rights, or they vary in any way, then your arrest cannot be seen as legal, and the case against you must be dismissed.
 
You were pulled over for no reason
Under the Fourth Amendment, the police must have a reason for pulling you over or a probable cause. Law enforcement must have either a warrant out for your arrest or a reasonable cause to be able to stop you. The probable cause needs to be documented in the police report for the DUI arrest. If there is no valid reason for the traffic stop, then search and seizure become illegal.
 
A blood sample was taken without a warrant
According to recent US Supreme Court law, a warrant is necessary to obtain a blood sample to test a blood alcohol concentration because it is so intrusive. Therefore, a suspect cannot be charged with refusing this type of test when a warrant is not present. If a warrant is present, then a proper analysis needs to be conducted for the results to be considered valid.
 
The officer did not follow the proper protocol
This can mean several things. First, the officer may not have conducted the field sobriety tests properly, like administering the breathalyzer. Secondly, the officer may not have followed the proper chain of custody when making the arrest. Simply put, if any part of the arrest process is conducted improperly, the DUI defense attorney can help you fight the allegations.
 
If you are a driver under the age of 21, and you have a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you will be charged with DWI under New York’s Zero Tolerance Law. It’s important to know that if you get charged with a DWI or DUI, you have options. Give us a call today if you have been charged with a DUI and need DUI defense.

Although most of us know that drunk driving is relatively common and incredibly dangerous, many people still think they’re invincible when they get behind the wheel. The “it could never happen to me” attitude will likely get you in trouble with the law, should you choose to drive while intoxicated. And unfortunately, these criminal allegations can have a big impact on your future. That’s especially true if you believe the following misconceptions pertaining to drunk driving and the procedures related to these crimes if you are caught.

MISCONCEPTION: You must answer every question an officer asks of you.

According to New York State law, you can be charged with a DWI if you operate a vehicle while having a BAC of 0.08% or higher and you’re 21 years of age or older. Here, you are legally able to drive if your BAC is below that percentage. However, you still might be wary of informing an officer that you’ve had a beer or a glass of wine if you’re asked about whether you’ve had anything to drink. That’s perfectly understandable and under no circumstances should you ever lie to a police officer. However, you can respectfully decline to answer without your lawyer present. You do not have to answer any questions if you are not being arrested, and if that’s the case, you should answer nothing without your lawyer.

MISCONCEPTION: You must submit to field sobriety tests.

DUI lawyers often have to defend clients who simply didn’t realize that they were under no legal obligation to perform field sobriety tests. You may feel funny about it and a police officer may pressure you to perform these tests (or alternatively frame them as “just making sure you’re okay to drive”), but you can request the presence of your lawyer before submitting to this testing. Even if you’re quite sober, these tests are extremely subjective and are easy to fail. And should you still be arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, your lawyer would probably tell you that your DUI defense could be easier to craft without an officer’s testimony relating to your field sobriety test performance.

MISCONCEPTION: Those who are arrested for a DWI for the first time are automatically eligible for a diversion program.

Although New York State laws have changed in favor of offering treatment programs in lieu of more serious jail time for first-time offenders, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be eligible for a diversion program. Even if this is the first time you’ve gotten in trouble with the law, there are certain factors that could impact your eligibility (like having a child in the car, being underage, or hurting someone as the result of your crime). It’s also essential to have experienced DWI lawyers defending you in order to have the best chance of qualifying for a diversion program.

Your DUI lawyers will prove to be a priceless resource if you find yourself arrested for driving while intoxicated in New York State. If you or someone you love needs help fighting these allegations, it’s important to work with some of the most experienced DUI lawyers available. To find out more or to schedule a consultation, contact our firm today.

We’d all like to believe that we’re excellent drivers. But the truth is that most of us have made poor decisions behind the wheel at one time or another. It’s not just inexperienced folks, either; although 5% of the driving population is comprised of motorists under age 21, even the most seasoned drivers take risks that result in the receipt of traffic violations. Whether you’ve run a red light and were caught on camera or were pulled over due to speeding, you might believe some common misconceptions about traffic tickets. If you don’t know the truth behind these myths, your misjudgment could make this situation even worse.

MYTH: You don’t need to bother to pay traffic tickets issued in other states.

Fact: With very few exceptions, you cannot simply ignore a ticket you’ve received while traveling in another state. In most cases, one state’s DMV will communicate with the one where you live and they’ll essentially transfer the ticket over. If you fail to pay it, you could incur even higher fees and have your license suspended. Your traffic ticket lawyers would recommend that you take care of the ticket as soon as possible, no matter where it was issued.

MYTH: The court will drop your ticket if the officer fails to show up.

Fact: If you choose to work with your traffic ticket lawyers to contest your ticket in court, you may be under the impression that the ticket will be automatically be dropped if the issuing officer doesn’t show up. That’s most often not what happens. Some states don’t even require the officer to appear at the initial hearing; other times, the hearing may simply be rescheduled, which means you’ll have to take additional time out of your schedule for this purpose. You shouldn’t bet on getting your ticket dismissed, nor should you choose to contest your ticket if your traffic ticket lawyers advise you it won’t be worth your time.

MYTH: “Radar inaccuracy” is a good defense when fighting a speeding ticket.

Fact: It may sound like a valid argument to make, and it might even be true that your speedometer didn’t match up with what the police’s radar says. But unfortunately, you probably won’t have any proof that an officer’s radar gave a faulty reading. Your traffic ticket lawyers could possibly argue that the officer’s radar hadn’t been re-calibrated recently, but they’d need to access those records first. Before making assumptions about defenses that might help your case, it’s important to consult with your attorney to determine whether they could actually hurt.

MYTH: Passing and matching the flow of traffic are valid excuses for speeding.

Fact: Some drivers think that passing a slow-moving vehicle or keeping up with the traffic flow will keep them safe from receiving a speeding ticket. That’s not so. While driving too slowly is a hazard, traveling above the speed limit to pass that slow car ahead of you is still illegal. And just because “everyone else is doing it” doesn’t give you a reason to speed, too. In both scenarios, you can still be issued a traffic ticket — and protesting with this reasoning won’t help matters. Your traffic ticket lawyers would advise you not to admit to breaking the law, even if you think your brief period of speeding is justified due to conditions around you.

MYTH: Failing to sign your ticket will get you off the hook.

Fact: There are certain ticketing mistakes that could work to your advantage. For example, if the DMV or the officer makes a huge mistake on a ticket, you could contest the error in court with help from an attorney. But a purposeful mistake on your part — like failing to sign your ticket or misspelling your own name — won’t do one bit of good. Signing your ticket shows only that you received it; it’s not an admission of guilt, and it can still be processed without your signature.

Being issued a traffic ticket can be stressful, but there’s no reason you have to go through this process without help. By having a reputable lawyer by your side, you may be able to fight unfair traffic tickets and restore peace to your life.