Richard Hochhauser built DWI cases for the Nassau County DA's office. Now he takes them apart — from an office directly across from the Nassau County courthouse.
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In New York, the DMV and the court start acting on your driver's license within days of a DWI arrest — long before your case is decided. Here's the timeline most people don't see coming:
Breath test or refusal. Everything you say is going in the report. This is when the state's case gets built.
If you blew .08+, the judge suspends your license on the spot. Whether you can keep driving to work depends on what your lawyer argues here.
If you refused the test, the DMV can revoke your license for a year at this hearing — even if your criminal case is later dismissed. It's also our first shot at cross-examining the officer under oath.
Evidence review, suppression motions, negotiation, hearing, or trial. The earlier we start, the more leverage we have.
Most defense lawyers guess how the prosecution will handle your file. Richard knows — because prosecuting these cases in these same courthouses was his job.
Trial attorney who has helped hundreds of Long Islanders get DWI and criminal charges dismissed or reduced. Member, National College for DUI Defense.
"Was in a bad spot but Richard Hochhauser got me great results on my DWI case in Nassau County. Highly recommend!!!"
"During what was one of the scariest times of my life, he gave me all of the knowledge and support possible... I ended up getting a great outcome for my case."
"Richard explained the matters of my case thoroughly and was professional and effective... ultimately getting the docket dismissed in its entirety."
Reviews from actual clients, published on Google and licriminallaw.com. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Call, text, or send the form. Richard listens to what happened, tells you what you're actually facing, and answers your questions in plain English. No charge, no pressure.
We move immediately on the urgent deadlines — arraignment, hardship privilege, DMV refusal hearing — so you can keep getting to work while the case plays out.
We pull the stop video, the breath-test records, and the paperwork, challenge everything challengeable, and push for the best realistic outcome: dismissal, reduction, or a win at hearing or trial.
For most first-offense DWIs in New York with no injuries, jail is unlikely — but a first DWI is still a crime that carries a permanent record, fines, license loss, and an ignition interlock. The realistic goal is usually a dismissal or reduction (for example, to a DWAI traffic infraction) that keeps a criminal conviction off your record. What's achievable depends on your facts — that's exactly what the free consultation is for.
Your license is at risk immediately — at arraignment if you took the test, or at a DMV hearing if you refused. But New York has hardship privileges and conditional licenses that often let you keep driving to work, school, and medical appointments. Getting those depends on acting fast and arguing them correctly. Don't assume you can't drive; call first.
Yes. A number on a machine is not a conviction. Breath-test results depend on calibration records, maintenance history, the officer's observation period, and how the stop itself was conducted. Refusals and "failed" tests get challenged — and reduced or thrown out — regularly. This is where having a former prosecutor review the file matters most.
The consultation is free, and Richard quotes a clear flat fee up front for your specific case — no hourly billing surprises. Compare that against the real cost of a conviction: fines, DMV assessments, interlock, years of increased insurance, and a permanent record.
Yes — call or text now. Arraignments happen fast in Nassau County, and the most important decisions in your case get made in the first day or two. Leave a message or text and you'll get a fast response.
One call. No cost. You'll know where you stand before you hang up.