Mr. Corletta Prevents 2 Year License Suspension for Client with Prior Alcohol-Related Convictions.

Under New York’s Multiple Drug & Alcohol Offender Regulations, the Department of Motor Vehicles created a new category of driving offenses called an “SDO” (Serious Driving Offense). An SDO can be defined as having more than 20 or more points on one’s license in a lifetime.

This means any client with 2 or more alcohol-related convictions in the last 25 years who gets a Speeding ticket, can be subject to a 2 year loss of license if a conviction on the Speeding charge brings them over the 20 point threshold. This is exactly what happened in People v.  T. W. (Gates Tn. Ct., 2/20).

          In that case, Mr. Corletta’s client had 2 prior alcohol-related convictions, and received a 6-point Speeding charge.

          Ordinarily, many people would have just mailed it in or accepted a 2-point reduction. Either result would have put this client over the 20-point threshold. Recognizing this, Mr. Corletta had his client obtain a Lifetime Abstract of Driving Record, revealing the client had points approaching the 20-point threshold.

          Mr. Corletta warned the client, who lived in another county, not to plead guilty, and took over the case. Mr. Corletta obtained a reduction to a 0-point parking violation, preserving the client's license, and the client also did not have to appear in Court at all.

          The client was extremely grateful for Mr. Corletta’s knowledge of the law and quick handling of the matter. The client commutes 60 miles back and forth to work every day and could not afford a loss of license due to this obscure regulation, which is arguably an ex post facto law and a trap for the unwary created by bureaucrats in Albany with no legislative oversight.