Santa Fe County prosecutors go after drunk drivers aggressively. You might have even been arrested, only to find out that your case was dismissed by prosecutors, a very confusing scenario.
Even for a first-time or simple DWI offense, it is a conviction that may result in:
- Jail time (Up to 90 Days)
- Fines (Up to $500)
- Revoked driving privileges (Up to 1 year)
- Reputational damage
- Criminal record (Up to 55 years)
- Other collateral consequences
Subsequent and aggravated DWIs are even worse.
Here is the Good News:
You can legally challenge these charges with a Santa Fe DWI/DUI lawyer at Grano Law Offices, P.C., a team with over 25 years of experience, training, and skill.
Meet Marc A. Grano
Our founder and Santa Fe DUI Lawyer, Marc A Grano, has deep past experience in trying these cases as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He knows the common tactics they use and that defendants can challenge them. Bad things can happen to good people, but you SHOULD NOT have to pay the criminal justice system with your life on a defensible matter.
Schedule a Free Case Strategy Session with Marc
📱 Remote Visits Are Available!
Unable to travel for an in-person meeting? We have got you covered! Remote visits are available at your convenience when you hire the Santa Fe DUI attorney at Grano Law Offices, P.C. Marc and his legal team have served clients through secure video- and teleconferencing routinely.
We Aggressively Represent Tough DWI/DUI Cases in Santa Fe County
Facing a DWI/DUI is frightening. Your whole future may be on the line. As a Santa Fe DUI/DWI attorney, Marc A. Grano wants you to know that you can challenge the charges pending against you.
REMEMBER: you are innocent until proven guilty.
Fight back by hiring a New Mexico DUI/DWI defense lawyer with proven results. Grano Law Offices, P.C. is prepared to create a defensive strategy that accounts for ALL of your rights while pushing back against the prosecutor assigned to your case.
Our office represents even the MOST serious DWI/DUI charges against potential consequences, including:
Misdemeanor DWI/DUI in New Mexico
Even for a first-time drunk driving conviction in New Mexico, you could face severe penalties. A third-offense DWI/DUI is the maximum number of offense before facing felony charges.
Common types of misdemeanor cases that we represent include:
- “Dismissed” DUIs
- Aggravated DUIs
- Marijuana DUIs
- First-time DUIs
- Underage DUIs
Another element that can increase the penalties handed down after conviction is for an aggravated DWI/DUI. An aggravated DWI/DUI occurs when your BAC registers at 0.16%, which is twice the legal limit. You can also get an aggravated DWI if you refuse to submit to BAC testing.
Here is an overview of the types of misdemeanor DWI/DUI cases we represent in New Mexico alongside their corresponding penalties, some of which are mandatory:
First-Offense DWI/DUI & Penalties:
- Ignition interlock for every vehicle you drive up to one year
- Up to 90 days in jail
- Up to a $500 fine
- Up to one-year of supervised probation
- Up to 24 hours of community service (mandatory)
- DWI school (mandatory)
- Participation in the victim impact panel (mandatory)
- Substance abuse screening (mandatory)
- Aggravated DWI/DUI: Mandatory 48 hours in jail
Second-Offense DWI/DUI & Penalties:
- Ignition interlock for every vehicle you drive for up to two years
- Up to one year in jail with 96 mandatory hours served consecutively
- Up to a $1,000 fine ($500 is mandatory)
- Up to five years of supervised probation
- 48 hours of community service (mandatory)
- Compliance with the recommendations of a substance abuse screening (mandatory)
- Complete in-patient, out-patient, or drug court requirements
- Aggravated DWI/DUI: Mandatory 8 days in jail
Third Offense DWI/DUI & Penalties:
- Ignition interlock for every vehicle you drive up to three years
- Up to one year in jail, with 30 mandatory days served consecutively
- Up to a $1,000 fine ($750 is mandatory)
- Up to 5 years of supervised probation
- Compliance with the recommendations of a substance abuse screening (mandatory)
- 96 hours of community service (mandatory)
- Complete in-patient, out-patient, or drug court requirements
- Aggravated DWI/DUI: Mandatory 90 days in jail
Felony DWI/DUI in New Mexico & Penalties
A fourth offense or subsequent offense results in felony DWI/DUI charges, which is a whole other level of seriousness in the eyes of the law. Minimum penalties for fourth-offense DUI/DWIs or greater include:
- Ignition interlock license for life and a lifetime revocation.
- Up to 12 years in prison
- Up to a $10,000 fine
- Up to five years on supervised probation
- Ineligibility for some jobs
Mandatory penalties for a felony DWI/DUI in New Mexico range from a mandatory six months imprisonment for a fourth DWI conviction all the way up to a mandatory minimum of ten (10) years in prison for an eighth DWI conviction. If you are facing a felony DWI, contact the New Mexico criminal defense lawyer at Grano Law Offices, P.C. right away to protect your rights and launch a strategic defense.
About MVD License Revocation Hearings
If you blew over the legal limit or refused the breath test to measure your blood alcohol content (BAC), your driver’s license will be confiscated by the arresting officer. You will be served with a Notice of Revocation by the arresting officer, and your privilege to operate a motor vehicle will be revoked UNLESS you demand an MVD license revocation hearing to challenge this decision.
THIS MUST BE DONE WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE OF REVOCATION! Marc holds certifications with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate DWI/DUI arrests and will use it to prepare a strategic defense that works to get you back on the road.
Drunk Driving Charges Are Defensible Because the Process Is Flawed
Even though you can be charged if you refuse a breath test or exceed the .08 percent BAC limit, there are possible defenses to the allegations you are facing. As your New Mexico DWI lawyer, we will work to analyze your case and uncover these potential defenses and put them to work in your favor by challenging the prosecutor at every critical point.
You see, DUI/DWI investigations are uniformly standardized throughout the United States. As you can imagine, law enforcement failures can occur at any point in the process. Their failures and inadequacies can become defenses if they affect your case.
At Grano Law Offices, P.C., we will evaluate your case for numerous possible defenses, including:
- You were not the actual driver of the vehicle
- The arresting officer lacked reasonable suspicion to stop you
- The Breathalyzer was defective or malfunctioning
- The administration of the Breathalyzer was flawed
- The arresting officer lacked probable cause to arrest you
- A medical condition caused you to exceed the breath test falsely
- A medical condition caused you to fail the field sobriety tests
- The arresting officer did not follow standardized procedures
- You did not refuse the breath test
- The arresting officer violated your rights
The prosecutor assigned to your case will act methodically to get the conviction they want. Plus, they have decades of collective experience prosecuting cases like yours. Do not let your lack of knowledge result in overpaying for your charges. Fight back by hiring a Santa Fe DWI/DUI defense lawyer to give yourself every chance at freedom and a bright future.
