Author Archives: Friedman & Ranzenhofer

In Rochester, Can Someone Be Charged With A Felony The First Time They Are Arrested For DWI?

When someone is charged with a felony level alcohol-related driving offense, they need an experienced Rochester DWI lawyer. For the most part, New York State uses a tiered system for its drinking and driving offenses, with first time offenders being charged with a misdemeanor – or even a traffic infraction – and felony charges being […]

What Is The Interstate Driver License Compact Regarding DWI In Rochester?

The Driver License Compact is a lengthy, complex legal agreement between most of the states in the United States. For those licensed in another state who are arrested in the Rochester area for drinking and driving, it means any conviction will be reported to their home state. For Rochester drivers traveling elsewhere in the United […]

What Is The Rochester Finger-To-Nose Test In A DWI Case?

What a Rochester driver is suspected of driving while intoxicated, the police officer who stopped the vehicle usually will ask the driver to perform one or more field sobriety tests. The purpose of these field sobriety tests is to assist the police officer in assessing the physical and mental condition of the driver. The finger-to-nose […]

Penalty For Grand Larceny In The Second Degree (NY PL 155.40) Explained By a Rochester Area Criminal Defense Lawyer

Second Degree Grand Larceny (NY PL 155.40) is charged when Rochester prosecutors believe they can prove you stole or took goods valued between $50,000 and $100,000. These charges are often associated with serious fraud crimes, so you may also be charged with something like tax fraud, healthcare fraud, or embezzlement. Grand Larceny in the Second […]

The Penalties For Grand Larceny In The Third Degree (NY PL 155.35) Explained By A Rochester Area Criminal Defense Lawyer

In Rochester, when a person is arrested for stealing goods whose value is between $3,000 and $50,000, they will be charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (NY PL 155.35), a D Felony that can put you in prison for as long as seven years. Fortunately, when the charges are levied against someone with […]

In Planning For Medicaid, What Assets Are Considered Exempt In Rochester?

Medicaid has stringent rules for eligibility in Rochester, and individuals and couples are well advised to begin Medicaid planning well in advance of any need they may have. Regardless of when you begin the process though, some assets are protected, or exempt, when it comes to determining net worth and income for the purposes of […]

What Does A Law Guardian Do In A Divorce Case With Children In Rochester?

A law guardian is a lawyer that the court appoints to represent the interests of your children in Rochester. While the position the law guardian takes will be significant in a custody matter, rest assured that the law guardian’s position is not wholly determinative to the court. Regardless, whatever decision the law guardian makes as […]

What Is The Finger Count Test In A Rochester DWI Case?

Experienced Rochester DWI lawyers have seen members of law enforcement use a number of different field sobriety tests – some of very questionable value – when attempting to determine whether a driver is intoxicated. The Finger Count Test is a field sobriety test that is commonly used in Western New York by police officers when […]

How Long After Drinking Alcohol Does It Begin To Affect Your Driving In Rochester?

It is not illegal to drive after having consumed alcohol. It is illegal to drive when alcohol is impacting your ability to drive in a reasonable and prudent manner. Because of this, many people in the Rochester area will attempt to pace or limit their alcohol consumption before driving. Unfortunately, there is no absolute rule […]

What Is Infrared Breath Testing In A Rochester DWI Case?

Infrared breath testing is the type of breath testing most commonly used in the Rochester area. Over the past fifteen years, all law enforcement agencies in the area have discontinued the use of older style breath test machines – which used a chemical process – in favor of machines that rely on infrared technology. All […]