Boston Drunk Driving Lawyers
- MERRICK, LOUISON & COSTELLO:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Bourbeau & Bonilla:
Our state and federal constitutions guarantee each one of us Due
Process of law. Yet, when accused of a crime, the person charged
suffers from a system which provides the government with almost
limitless resources.
- David Yannetti:
In October 2005, the Massachusetts legislature passed “Melanie's Law,”
which substantially increased the penalties for DUI or OUI convictions.
The consequences for refusing a breathalyzer test increased as well,
with a more severe license suspension and increased penalties for
multiple offenders.
- Joseph Griffin:
Consequences of a DUI / OUI conviction
There are economic penalties for conviction or admission of driving
under the influence, such as job loss, insurance rate increases, and
inability to rent a car. There are also legal penalties,Êthat may have
an significant effectÊof your driving privilege. There are mandatory
minimum fines and jail sentences, depending on the blood alcohol level
and the number of prior offenses. With prior convictions or admissions
of guilt, probationary sentences can be extremely harsh for an OUI
second offense. That is why it is so important not to plead guilty
right away. It can hurt you both immediately, and down the road, if you
are ever arrested again for the same offense.
- Scott Lopez:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Fitzgerald & Company:
In general it is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle on a public road
or way, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana,
narcotic drugs, depressants, or stimulant substances. The penalties for
a violation of this law include probation or a jail sentence depending
upon the number of times that a person has been convicted previously,
and whether there was serious damage to persons or property. The courts
and prosecutor will routinely require completion of an alcohol or
substance abuse education program as part of any sentence.
- Thomas Brant:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Denner Associates:
The Criminal Defense Attorney is Home indeed the last bastion of freedom in this country.
- Laurence Cote:
Drunk driving in Massachusetts or New Hampshire is a very serious
offense. Massachusetts has a lifetime look-back policy, so each
consecutive offense carries larger fines and jail time than the last,
no matter how many years are between the offenses. New Hampshire has a
similar policy but the look-back period is only 10 years. If you have
been charged with drunk driving, a lawyer can make a difference. You
need to enlist the skill of a highlyÊexperienced DUI attorney to
effectively protect your rights and seize any opportunity to keep your
record clean.
- Terry Flukes: 1.
Q: Do you have to be "drunk" to be guilty of drunk driving?
A: No. Years ago, a drunk driving charge meant someone was "drunk" in
the way all of us commonly understand the word - intoxicated. But
today, intoxication as we know it is not required for one to be guilty
of drunk driving. During the last ten years public outcry against the
toll of injury and death which drinking drivers inflict has changed the
laws against drunk driving radically and made them much more severe. So
the criminal laws against drinking and driving now mean operating a
vehicle with considerably less alcohol in your system than what we
customarily recognize as being enough to make a person drunk.
You may not think you are drunk. Those around you may not think you are
drunk. Indeed, for the purpose of every other situation except driving,
you may not even be considered drunk. But your condition may be enough
for you to be found guilty of a drunk driving offense under the current
definition of the law. And if you are convicted, you will suffer some
very harsh penalties.
- Brandon Suanders:
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, including DWI / DUI, you have options.
- Joseph Griffin:
Criminal vs. Civil Matters
A criminal case arises when either the federal or state government
seeks to punish an individual for an act that is a crime. Whereas a
civil case typically deals with a dispute over rights and duties that
individuals and entities owe to one another. Some differences between
criminal and civil matters are listed below.
- In a criminal case, a prosecutor handles the case on behalf of the federal government or state.
- In a civil case, the victim or wronged party sues a defendant.
- If a defendant is convicted of a crime she may be required to pay a fine, be incarcerated or both.
- In a civil case, one held responsible might be required to pay
money damages, return property, or cease from engaging in a certain
activity. They will not be sentenced to jail or prison.
- In a criminal case, the prosecutor must prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
- In a civil case, a plaintiff must prove that a defendant is guilty by a preponderance of the evidence, more than 50 percent.
- In a criminal case, a defendant is almost always entitled to a jury trial.
- In a civil case, a defendant is only entitled to a jury trial in certain cases.
- Anthony Lochiatto:
After a defendant has been arrested, he will be scheduled for an
arraignment. The defendant may have been released on bail or his own
recognizance, or he may have been required to remain in jail until his
arraignment. An arraignment is a proceeding whereby the offense that
the defendant is charged with is read to him and he enters a plea to
the offense charged. The defendant is also apprised of his right to:
- Be present.
- Right to an arraignment.
- Right to counsel.
- Right to receive a copy of the accusatory instrument.
- Right to appear pro se.
- Francis
O'Brien: Frequently, individuals accused of operating under the
influence or other motor vehicle offenses, will also face suspension of
their right to operate a motor vehicle.
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