Spring Valley Woman Faces Drunken Driving Charges In Stony Point

STONY POINT, NY — Spring Valley resident Esther Porcenat faces charges ranging from felony to traffic infraction after a one-car accident on Cedar Flats Road at 6:49 p.m. Sunday.

After a brief investigation, the 31-year-old was charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction, refusal to take a breath test, interlock device violation and driving while ability impaired, police said.

Under New York State law, the second DWI or DWAI-Drug violation in 10 years is a felony, which carries a $1,000 - $5,000 fine and revocation of your drivers license for at least a year.

Also, if you are convicted of driving while intoxicated or aggravated driving while intoxicated as a felony or misdemeanor, you are required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in any vehicle that you own or use. Most likely, your sentence requires you to have the IID installed for at least 12 months.

The ignition interlock restriction will be added to your driver license record even if your license is revoked. The restriction will appear on the back of the driver license document as "interlock device."

Driving without an IID against a court order and helping someone drive without a court ordered IID, are Class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail.

Refusal to take a breathalyzer test is only a traffic infraction. However, it triggers both an automatic 1-year license suspension and a fine of $500, whether or not you are convicted of a DWI or DWAI charge.

Porcenat is due back in Stony Point Justice Court Tuesday.