Free DWI Consultation — Talk to Tom Anelli & Associates Today
Free Consultation.
No Obligation.
Most people who call us have never been arrested before and don’t know what a lawyer costs. Call anyway — the consultation is free, there’s no obligation, and you’ll get a straight answer, not a runaround. We answer 24/7.
To: 315-870-1516
What a Free Consultation Actually Means Here
No Fee, No Obligation
Free means free. There is no charge for the call, and no charge if you decide not to hire us. Plenty of people call, get their questions answered, and go a different direction. That’s a fine outcome — you’re not committing to anything by asking.
What Happens on the Call
We ask what happened — the stop, the tests, whether you took or refused the breath test, whether there was an accident, what county you’re in, and whether you’ve been through this before. Then we tell you what you’re realistically facing, what the next 30 days look like, whether anything is time-sensitive, and what representation would cost.
What to Have Ready
You don’t need to prepare anything to call. But if you have these in front of you, the conversation goes faster and further:
- Your ticket or the papers you were given at release
- Your next court date and the court's name
- Your BAC reading, if you know it
- Whether you refused the breath test
- Whether your license was taken
If you don’t have any of it, call anyway. We can work from what you remember.
How Much Does a DWI Lawyer Cost in New York?
The honest answer is that it depends on the case, and anyone quoting a number before hearing the facts is guessing.
What Drives the Fee
- Whether you refused the chemical test, which adds a separate DMV hearing
- Whether this is a first offense or you have priors
- Your BAC — an aggravated DWI at .18 or higher is a different case
- Whether there was an accident or an injury
- Whether the case needs a suppression hearing
- Whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony
A first offense DWI with a clean record and a straightforward stop is very different work from a felony case with a refusal hearing attached.
You’ll Know the Terms Before You Commit
Fee structure varies with the case, and we go over it with you before anything is signed. Ask whatever you want about it — what’s included, what isn’t, what happens if the case takes an unexpected turn. Nobody here is going to be put off by questions about money.
To: 315-870-1516
What a DWI Conviction Costs If You Don’t Fight It
The legal fee is the cost people focus on. It’s rarely the largest number. Here is what a first offense DWI conviction actually costs in New York, before you account for insurance:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fine | $500 – $1,000 |
| Mandatory surcharge | $395 (+$5 in town or village court) |
| Driver Responsibility Assessment | $750 ($250 per year for three years) |
| Impaired Driver Program | $75 DMV enrollment + ~$225–$235 program fee |
| Ignition interlock | ~$70–$150 install + ~$70–$130/month |
| License reinstatement | $100 re-application + $50 suspension termination fee |
| Criminal record | Permanent |
Interlock alone typically runs $1,000 to $1,800 over a 12-month restriction. Add the insurance increase that follows a conviction, and the multi-year cost climbs well past what most people expect — before you account for what a criminal record costs you in jobs, apartments, and professional licensing, which has no price tag and no end date.
This is general information, not a quote or a prediction about your case. Costs vary and statutory amounts change.
The call costs nothing. Waiting costs more.
Free consultation, 24/7. Payment plans available.
“I Need a Lawyer and I Have No Money”
That is one of the most common things people type into a search bar before they call us. It deserves a real answer rather than a sales pitch.
Payment Plans
We offer payment plans, because the people who most need a DWI lawyer rarely planned for the expense. We work out the structure during your consultation. Ask directly — it's a normal question and nobody here will be surprised by it.
If You Truly Cannot Afford Private Counsel
You have the right to apply for assigned counsel through the court. Eligibility is based on income and the court makes the determination, usually at arraignment. Tell the judge you cannot afford a lawyer and ask to apply. We would rather tell you that than have you go into court with no representation at all.
The Cost of Waiting
Cases get harder to help as they age. Evidence gets overwritten. Deadlines pass. Statements get made. If money is the reason you haven't called yet, call and ask about the payment plan rather than waiting until you've saved up — by then some of the useful options may be gone.
Can't afford it right now? Ask about the payment plan.
Free consultation, 24/7. Payment plans available.
Available 24/7 Across Upstate New York
Someone answers whenever you call — nights, weekends, holidays. We represent clients in roughly 49 counties across upstate New York: Syracuse and Central New York, Albany and the Capital Region, Rochester and the Finger Lakes, Binghamton and the Southern Tier, Watertown and the North Country, and the Hudson Valley.
Free Consultation FAQs
Get Your Free Consultation
The call costs nothing. It takes a few minutes, and you'll know more at the end of it than you do now.
To: 315-870-1516
This page is attorney advertising. The information here is general and does not constitute legal advice. Contacting this firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Schedule Your Call With Tom Anelli's Team.
This isn't just a consultation. It's the moment we start dismantling the case against you.
- Immediate analysis of your arrest record
- Strategy to protect your driver's license
- Clear plan for your local court proceedings
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Serving all counties across Upstate New York Counties.