Solving legal problems throughout WNY
Published Work
Over the years, the attorneys of Bakshi & Leta have written a number of articles on DWI-related issues and DMV regulations, several of which were published by the Erie County Bar Association for the benefit of local practitioners.
These articles share the practical lessons we have learned through our varied experience in the DWI and Vehicle & Traffic field, advising fellow attorneys on the intricacies involved in this work as the laws continue to evolve. While they are written primarily for legal practitioners, anyone facing a DWI or traffic matter may find them a useful window into how these cases really work.
Each article below is available as a downloadable PDF. Click any title to open the article in a new browser tab. Please note that these materials are educational and are not legal advice for any specific situation. For guidance on your own case, call (716) 631-0004 for a free, confidential consultation.
A practitioner-focused rundown of the questions that come up most often in DWI defense, with clear, practical answers drawn from real courtroom experience. It is a useful starting point for attorneys who handle these cases only occasionally and want to avoid common missteps. Opens as a PDF in a new tab.
This article highlights the traps and missteps that can derail a DWI or Vehicle & Traffic case, from procedural deadlines to overlooked collateral consequences. It is a candid warning, built from hard-won experience, about where well-meaning practitioners most often go wrong. Opens as a PDF in a new tab.
One of the most consequential decisions a driver faces is whether to submit to chemical testing. This article walks through the practical points surrounding chemical-test refusals, the DMV consequences that follow, and what practitioners should understand when advising clients on the issue. Opens as a PDF in a new tab.
Leandra’s Law significantly changed how New York treats intoxicated driving, including charges involving a child passenger and the use of ignition interlock devices. This article reviews the amendments to the law and what they mean in practice for those who handle DWI cases. Opens as a PDF in a new tab.
A DWI or other criminal conviction can make a client inadmissible to Canada, a consequence many people never see coming. This article explains how Canadian authorities treat intoxicated-driving and other criminal records at the border, and what options may exist for those affected. Opens as a PDF in a new tab.
You might wonder why a law firm publishes technical articles for other attorneys. The answer says something important about how we practice. DWI and Vehicle & Traffic law is a narrow, fast-changing field, and the lawyers who handle it well are the ones who study it constantly, reading the latest decisions, tracking amendments, and comparing notes with colleagues. By writing and teaching in this area, we stay at the front edge of it, and that depth of knowledge is exactly what we bring to your defense.
When the Erie County Bar Association publishes a firm’s work, it reflects a recognition that the firm has something worthwhile to contribute to the local legal community. For you, the practical benefit is simple: the attorney handling your case is not learning DWI law on your dime. We have already written extensively on many of these very issues.
New York’s drinking-and-driving laws have changed dramatically over the years, and they continue to evolve. The legal blood-alcohol threshold has been lowered more than once; Aggravated DWI was added for high-BAC cases; Leandra’s Law made it a felony to drive intoxicated with a child in the car; and ignition-interlock requirements and DMV re-licensing rules have grown steadily stricter. Each change creates new pitfalls for the unwary and new opportunities for a knowledgeable defense.
That is the through-line in everything we write and everything we do: the details matter, the law is always moving, and the difference between a good outcome and a bad one often comes down to an attorney who truly knows the terrain. If you are facing a DWI, a traffic charge, or a DMV issue, the same experience reflected in these articles is available to you directly.
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Still have a question? Call (716) 631-0004 for a free, confidential consultation.
The articles were authored by the attorneys of Bakshi & Leta, drawing on our focused experience in DWI and Vehicle & Traffic Law. Several were published by the Erie County Bar Association for the benefit of local practitioners.
No. These articles are written for legal practitioners and for general educational purposes. They are not legal advice for any specific situation. For advice about your own case, call (716) 631-0004 for a free, confidential consultation.
Each article is provided as a downloadable PDF. Click any article title to open it in a new browser tab, where you can read, download, or print it.
Put our focused DWI experience to work for you. A free, confidential consultation is just a phone call away.