Alcohol and drugs
Not counting surcharges and fees, what fine range does the penalty table give for a first DWI conviction?
- $500 to $1,000. Correct answer
- $300 to $500.
- $1,000 to $2,500.
Why
A first DWI in New York is a misdemeanor, and the penalty table sets its fine between $500 and $1,000, with up to a year in jail and a revocation of at least six months. The table lists only the fine itself; the mandatory surcharge and the crime victims' assistance fee come on top of it. The other two ranges sit on either side in the same table: $300 to $500 is a first DWAI, the lighter traffic infraction, and $1,000 to $2,500 is a first aggravated DWI, at .18 or more. The same row also covers a first DWAI-drug, driving while impaired by a drug, whose license action is a suspension of at least six months instead of a revocation. The three minimum fines line up in order, $300 for DWAI, $500 for DWI and $1,000 for aggravated DWI.
Where this comes from
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), April 2026 version. The correct answer is $500 to $1,000.
More on alcohol and drugs
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