The Dakota in New York City

The Dakota in New York City

A slanted mansard roof dotted with dormer windows. Gothic-inspired gables and Victorian balustrades that meet reliefs and figures etched in peach sandstone and brick. These are just some of the features framing the striking Dakota Building. Few Manhattan luxury apartment buildings are as renowned. Located at 1 west 72nd Street, at the intersection of 72nd Street and Central Park West, The Dakota boasts breathtaking structural design in German Renaissance style. Its interiors follow the French style. Large rooms connected by multiple halls make ideal spaces for catered parties. Tall ceilings and expansive windows make these units peaceful retreats for their owners. Most floor plans for apartments in The Dakota span between three and ten rooms. No two units in the Dakota are exactly alike.

CNBC has called the Dakota "New York's Most Exclusive Building. Famous residents of The Dakota include actor Lauren Becall, author Harlan Coben, anchor Connie Chung and actor Judy Garland. The Dakota has been the setting for the book Time and Again and the film Rosemary's Baby. The Dakota is probably best known for being the site of the assassination of Beatle John Lennon by a crazed stalker in 1980. Lennon had lived with his wife Yoko Ono in The Dakota from 1973 to 1980, and Ono still lives there today. Yes, The Dakota is home to accomplished notables and celebrities, but residents nonetheless feel the white-gloved doorman and full service building exudes a sense of warmth. One owner, who put his one-of-a-kind 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment on the market for $29.6 million, was quoted in the New York Times as saying "They're your neighbors, so you say hello... It's really a very friendly and relaxed building." Dakota is an 87- unit luxury cooperative apartment that also offers residents a private courtyard and numerous building community events throughout the year. Recent sales at the Dakota include a 3 bedroom 3 bath for $5.65 million and one bedroom one bath for $2 million. The Dakota building is currently priced at $2725/sq. foot (November 2012).

The Dakota's immaculately kept appearance may make it hard for some to believe it was built in the late 1800s. The Dakota's construction, from 1880 to 1884, was the brainchild of Edward Clark, Singer Sewing Machine Company's founder. The same architectural firm behind the Plaza Hotel, Henry Jane Hardenbergh, designed The Dakota Building. Since its completion, The Dakota building struck a sense of wonder in the hearts and minds of all who saw it. It was the first truly luxury apartment building in the Upper West Side, built at a time when the Upper West Side was still a mostly empty plain. It even had a horse carriage garage, complete with elevators! The success of the Dakota cemented it as a trendsetter for future luxury apartment buildings in Manhattan. Originally a 93-unit building, over the years some apartments have been combined so that The Dakota now houses 87 units. The Dakota was named a NYC Historic Landmark in 1969. Seven years later, in 1976, The Dakota was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. The Dakota continues to be in-demand, and when units enter the market, they are purchased fairly quickly.

South Dakota DUI Attorney

South Dakota DUI Law

It is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of South Dakota. If you are arrested for and later convicted of this offense, you face serious penalties that can impact your financial situation, reputation, and your freedom. You will also face the loss of your driving privileges, making it difficult if not impossible to continue with your daily activities. These penalties make it important for you to contact a South Dakota DUI attorney as soon as you are arrested for a DUI/DWI offense. A skilled South Dakota DUI lawyer will be able to review the facts of your case and plan a defense that gives you the best chance of winning your case or minimizing the penalties imposed if convicted of driving under the influence.

South Dakota DUI/DWI Law

The DUI law in South Dakota is somewhat unique because of the way that the term "vehicle" is used. In most states, DUI laws cover motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorboats, tractors, and similar equipment. South Dakota law expands the definition of a vehicle to include almost anything you can ride in or on for the purposes of transportation. Riding a bicycle or even a horse while your blood alcohol content level is above the legal limit can very well be considered a DUI offense and you may be arrested and prosecuted for DUI. South Dakota is also one of the states that use the concept of implied consent within the DUI laws. This means that you imply your consent to chemical testing simply by using the roadways and operating a vehicle within the state. You do not have the right to refuse chemical testing in South Dakota if you have been lawfully arrested for a DUI offense. South Dakota is one of the few states that do not have an administrative license suspension or revocation associated with a DUI arrest. Any suspension or revocation is ordered by the court as a part of the DUI criminal trial.

DUI Prosecution

If you are arrested lawfully for a DUI offense, you will be prosecuted under the DUI laws of the state of South Dakota. There are two ways in which you can be prosecuted for a driving under the influence charge in South Dakota. One is the traditional, common law definition of driving under the influence. In this type of case, the prosecutor will try to show that you were impaired as a result of alcohol or drug consumption. Information about your appearance, driving habits, and field sobriety test results may be introduced to show that you were impaired at a level that prevented you from safely operating your vehicle. Another way you can be prosecuted is under the "per se" law in South Dakota. The prosecutor using this method of prosecution does not have to show any particular level of impairment. It simply must be proven that your blood alcohol concentration level exceeded the legal limit of 0.08% at the time of chemical testing. Having a qualified South Dakota DUI attorney representing you can help you to minimize the impact of any testimony or test results because your attorney can question the validity of the arrest or the reliability of the chemical test results.

Driver's License Penalties

As outlined above, South Dakota has no administrative license suspension process in place for drivers who are arrested for DUI. However, the courts will impose license suspension on convicted offenders. The suspension period is 30 days for the first offense, a one year revocation for a second offense, and a one year revocation for a third offense. If you have refused to submit to chemical testing, your license will be suspended for one year whether you were actually intoxicated or not.

Additional South Dakota Criminal Penalties

In addition to the suspension or revocation of your driving privileges, you will also face penalties that can include jail time, fines, and more. South Dakota has a 10 year look-back period that helps prosecutors determine how to charge an offense. If you have a prior drunken driving offense within 10 years of your most recent offense, you will be charged with a second or subsequent offense. If prior convictions occurred more than ten years before your current offense, you will be charged as a first time offender and will face the penalties for a first time offense. The fines associated with a DUI conviction are $300 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense, and $3,500 for a third offense. Jail terms for DUI offenses in South Dakota are 48 hours for first and second offenses, 60 days for a third offense, and one year for a fourth offense. You may also be sentenced to community service or house arrest at the discretion of the court. You may be required to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for the purposes of making sure that you cannot drive while there is a measurable amount of alcohol in your body. If you have a third conviction within a ten year time period, your vehicle will be seized by the state. If you are sentenced to treatment or alcohol assessment, it may be at your own cost and you may be required to comply with any recommendations made by the assessment professional.

Because of the criminal penalties associated with DUI in South Dakota, DUI is an offense that you want to avoid. Being arrested for and convicted of a DUI offense can impact your family life, make it impossible for you to apply for and receive a better job, lead to the loss of your freedom, impact your financial situation, and taint everything in your life. If you want to have the best chance of successfully defending yourself against DUI charges in South Dakota, you need to hire a South Dakota DUI attorney. A skilled and experienced attorney will be able to review your case and come up with the best course of action to pursue. Even if you are convicted, your South Dakota DUI lawyer may be able to minimize the penalties imposed by speaking on your behalf.

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