When you’re facing both criminal charges and serious traffic violations, the consequences can be life-changing. A conviction can mean a permanent criminal record, driver’s license consequences, increased insurance premiums, employment issues, and thousands of dollars in long-term costs.
Recently, The Law Office of Siara Ossa, PLLC obtained an outstanding result for a client facing numerous misdemeanor criminal charges and multiple traffic violations in Nassau County District Court.
The Charges
Our client was accused of numerous offenses, including:
- Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Obstructing Governmental Administration (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (5 points)
- Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident (3 points)
- Speed Not Reasonable And Prudent (3 points)
- Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign (3 points)
- Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device (3 points)
- Improper Plates
- Unlicensed Operation
- Additional traffic and equipment violations
If convicted as originally charged, our client was facing multiple criminal convictions in addition to approximately 17 points on their New York driving record—enough to trigger significant DMV consequences and dramatically increase insurance costs.
Looking Beyond the Charges
Every case is different, and the facts surrounding a person’s life matter. Sometimes effective advocacy is not just about arguing the law—it’s about making sure the prosecutor and the court understand the person standing before them.
The Result
After negotiations, we achieved the following outcome:
Every criminal charge was dismissed.
The Reckless Driving charge (5 points) was reduced to a speeding violation for 11 mph over the speed limit (4 points).
All remaining traffic violations were dismissed.
The Bottom Line
17 DMV points reduced to just 4.
Every misdemeanor criminal charge dismissed.
Instead of leaving court with multiple criminal convictions and overwhelming traffic consequences, our client resolved the case with:
- No criminal convictions
- Only one reduced traffic infraction
- A one-year Conditional Discharge
- Completion of a Victim Impact Panel and an approved Driver Improvement Program
The Driver Improvement Program may also qualify the client for insurance discounts and can provide a DMV point reduction after completion, creating an even better long-term outcome.
Why Hiring the Right Attorney Matters
Cases like this don’t resolve themselves.
The best result often comes from knowing what evidence to present, understanding what matters during negotiations, and finding ways to reduce both the immediate and long-term consequences for a client.
Many people focus only on avoiding jail. But preserving a clean criminal record, protecting a driver’s license, reducing DMV points, avoiding insurance increases, and eliminating unnecessary conditions can have an impact for years after the case is over.
If you’ve been charged with a crime or serious traffic offense in Nassau County, Suffolk County, or anywhere on Long Island, don’t assume the original charges are the final outcome.
An experienced defense attorney may be able to negotiate a significantly better result.
Charged with a crime or serious traffic offense?
Contact The Law Office of Siara Ossa, PLLC today to discuss your case and learn what options may be available before making any decisions. Prior outcomes do not guarantee future results.