Pulled Over For DUI? You need an attorney!

Fall is on its way to the New England towns of Providence, Fall River and Warwick.  Soon the countryside will be ablaze with the vivid colors of the season.  But as you cruise the country roads this autumn, make sure that the colors you see in your rear-view mirror are the golds and oranges of the foliage and not the red and blue of a police cruiser.  Those who mix drinking and driving with their harvest parties this year will find that their fall fun is coming to a quick end thanks to the efforts of local law enforcement.

Drunk driving is a serious crime throughout New England and it is one that police throughout the region are dedicated to eliminating.  In order to do so, they have increased their patrols and sobriety checkpoints.  Additionally, the penalties for a drunk driving conviction are becoming more and more severe each year.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving offense in the New England area, you need to act quickly to ensure that your rights are protected and your privileges are maintained.  This is not a case to handle alone.  The laws related to a drunk driving defense are complicated and are rapidly changing.  Your best response is to contact an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible.  These legal professionals have seen hundreds of cases just like yours and can quickly evaluate your case and recommend the best action for your situation.

The legal level for intoxication in this area is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%.  A driver’s BAC is determined based on a chemical test of their blood or breath.  A sample of either blood or breath was requested when you were pulled over.  If you refused to provide this sample, your license was automatically suspended for a minimum of 30 days in Massachusetts and at least 90 days in Rhode Island.  The state of Rhode Island will also assess a fine, require community service, and require the driver to participate in driver education courses as a result of a chemical test refusal.

If you are convicted of a DUI in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, you will face similar penalties, including fines, driver’s license suspensions, mandatory community service, alcohol screening and assessment, and driver safety courses.  The maximum amount fined for a DUI first offense in Rhode Island is $300 if your BAC is less than .15%.  A BAC higher than .15% will increase the maximum fine to $500.  Drivers convicted of DUI in Rhode Island will also be required to pay a $500 highway safety assessment.  Fines for a first offense DUI conviction in Massachusetts can reach up to $5,000.

All of these consequences will have a continual and dramatic impact on the driver and their family.  The risk is too great.  Take action today by consulting a qualified DUI lawyer to review your case.

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Arrested For DUI In Hartford? Find A Lawyer Quick

City of Hartford
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Hartford is well-known as the Insurance Capital of the World, but if you consume alcoholic beverages before taking to the streets in this New England community, your insurance company will not be on your side.

Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Connecticut.  The laws related to a drunk driving case are constantly under review and the penalties for a DUI conviction are becoming increasingly severe.  This is not a situation that you want to handle alone.  Your best response is to discuss your case with an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible.  These legal professionals have seen numerous cases just like yours and they will be able to quickly assess all aspects in your case and recommend the best course of action for you.

The legal limit for intoxication in the state of Connecticut is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%.  The driver’s BAC is determined through the administration of a chemical test, which requires that the driver provide a sample of blood, breath or urine for analysis.  If the driver refuses to provide this sample, his or her driver’s license will be automatically suspended for a period of 6 months even if this is their first DUI offense.  This is the result of the Connecticut Implied Consent Law, which states that any person who drives in the state of Connecticut has already given consent to the administration of a chemical test to determine their BAC just based on their decision to drive in the state.

If you do submit to the chemical test and it shows that your BAC is .08% or greater, you will be taken into custody.  You will be held in police detention until you are bailed out.  If you are convicted of DUI and this is your first offense, you can anticipate significant penalties including fines between $500 and $1000 and a license suspension of 1 year.  This driver’s license suspension is separate from the suspension of your license if you refused to submit to a chemical test.  Jail time will also be a part of the penalties for a first time DUI conviction.  The jail sentence is 6 months with 48 hours being mandatory.  This sentence may be suspended, but in these cases 100 hours of community service will be required.

Drivers whose license is suspended as a result of a DUI conviction can apply for a special operating permit that will allow them to drive to and from work only.  Application for this permit must be made through the Driver Services Division of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

And finally, if you are convicted of a DUI, your auto insurance rates will increase substantially and your insurance carrier may go so far as to drop your policy, forcing you to pay much higher premiums with a new carrier.

You need to take action immediately to ensure that your freedoms and privileges are protected.  Contact a qualified DUI lawyer today to start working on your case.

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Arrested For OUI In Springfield, Massachusetts? Find An Attorney

Springfield, Massachusetts is known as the “City of Firsts”.  From the first basketball game to the first set of Goodyear tires, Springfield is known for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.  But one “first” you don’t want to have in the Springfield area is your first DUI arrest and conviction.

Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Massachusetts.  Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are determined to eliminate this crime from their areas through increased patrols and checkpoints and legislators are just as determined to decrease the chances of repeat offenses by increasing the severity of the penalties assigned to those who are convicted.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving offense in the Springfield area, your best response is to contact an experienced DUI attorney as quickly as possible.  These legal professionals have seen hundreds of cases just like yours and will be able to quickly assess all the factors in your case and recommend the actions that are best for you specifically.  Additionally, they are well-informed regarding the constantly changing legislation in their legal specialty, ensuring that they are able to develop a defense that is appropriate.

Drunk driving is referred to as “operating a vehicle under the influence” or OUI in the state of Massachusetts.  A driver is considered OUI if they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or intoxicating substances, or if they demonstrate a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater.  The driver’s BAC is determined by a chemical test of his or her breath or blood.  If the driver refuses to provide this sample or if the sample shows that their BAC is above the legal limit, their driver’s license will be suspended for between 30 days and 5 years.

Following your arrest, you will have only 15 days in which to contest this suspension.  This is referred to as the administrative license suspension.  If you are convicted of OUI, your license may also be suspended for up to 90 days if this is your first OUI offense and this is a completely separate matter.  If you did submit to the chemical test to determine your BAC, you will be eligible for a hardship permit, which will allow you to drive only under specified circumstances.

In addition to the suspension of your license, first time OUI offenders can anticipate substantial fines as a punishment.  You may also be eligible for “continuance without finding” (CWOF) ruling in your case.  This is not a conviction but has the same penalties as an OUI conviction and will be part of your permanent driver’s record.

A CWOF ruling will enable you to serve probation rather than jail time in your case.  Ascertaining this ruling requires negotiation by a qualified OUI/DUI lawyer.  Take action today by speaking with a legal professional and ensure that you are able to maintain as much of your freedom as is possible.

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Defending A DUI Charge In Philadelphia

Philadelphia skyline as seen from the South St...
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No matter the season, there is always plenty to do in the City of Brotherly Love.  From giving the Liberty Bell a ring to indulging your curiosity about which Philly eatery has the best cheesesteak, you can fill your days and nights with fun here.  But if you wash your gastronomical indulgences down with alcohol and then get behind the wheel, you won’t be feeling the love at all.

Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Pennsylvania.  This crime is constantly under the scrutiny of legislators throughout the country who are determined to reduce its occurrence.  To that end, law enforcement agencies have been steadily increasing patrols and checkpoints and the penalties associated with a DUI conviction are becoming more and more severe each year.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving offense in the Philadelphia area, the worst thing you can do is doubt the gravity of the situation you are in. The process of defending yourself in a case like this is complicated and time-consuming.  The laws and procedures involved in a DUI case are guaranteed to leave a layperson confused and overwhelmed.  But there is help.

The first step to getting your life back in order is to contact an experienced DUI attorney.  You should select a legal professional who specializes in cases just like yours to ensure that they have the most up-to-date knowledge on the rapidly changing landscape of DUI law.

In the state of Pennsylvania, drunk driving crimes are referred to as “driving under the influence” (DUI) or “driving after imbibing” (DAI).  The legal limit for intoxication in Pennsylvania is a blood alcohol concentration of .08%.

At the time of your arrest, the officer requested that you complete a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) by providing a breath or blood sample.  If you refused to submit to this test, your license was automatically suspended for 12 months.  You may be able to appeal this suspension, but you will need to act quickly.

If you are convicted of the DUI charge, you may lose your license as well.  In this case, the suspension will last for a period of up to 18 months.  You will also face additional penalties.  These penalties will differ depending on the level of your BAC at the time of your arrest.  Your level of intoxication will be classified in one of three categories:  General Impairment for a BAC between .08 and .99%, High BAC for concentrations of between .10 and .159%, and Highest BAC for levels of .16% and greater.

Extenuating circumstances can also push you into a higher class of offense.  Examples of these conditions include being a minor driver, driving a commercial vehicle, and a BAC that includes a controlled substance.  Penalties range from fines to jail time.

All of the penalties associated with a DUI conviction will have a serious impact on your life and that of your family.  The risks in these cases are too great.  This is not a situation you want to handle alone.  Contact a qualified DUI lawyer today to walk you through this difficult time.

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The Difference Between DUI and DWI in Illinois

Filed under: DUI/DWI — Tags: , , , , — DUIGuy @ 11:41 am

Technically, DUI means driving under the influence of some type drug. That can mean alcohol, prescriptions, or illegal drugs. DWI means simply driving while intoxicated, and in many states, refers to the use of alcohol. The use of the terms can be interchangeable but DWI usually refers more to the severity the drug has metabolized within the offending person’s body.

In Illinois, a person charged with DUI faces two different cases, one before the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) concerning their driver’s license which requires an administrative hearing, and the actual accusation for a DUI may require a court case, traffic case, criminal case, or ticket.

Convictions for first time offenders can include heavy fines, jail sentences, DUI school, license suspension, and community service.

According to HG.org, located in Chicago,“Effective January 1, 2009, the judicial driving permit, a hardship license formerly granted to first offenders is abolished for all arrestees on or after 1-1-09. 625 ILCS 5/6-206.1 makes several substantial changes to the implied consent laws.” Whatever term you refer to drinking and driving or drunk driving, states are clamping down on these type traffic violations.

When you face these kinds of charges, it is no time to handle your case all by yourself. You need an attorney who specializes in such cases. Contact DUIAttorneyHome.com to help you get in contact with a DUI lawyer who can help you understand the subtle differences in the legal jargon of Illinois law, and who specializes in representing your best interests.

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DUI Enforcement In Washington DC

Once known as the murder capital of the United States, Washington DC has dramatically reduced the incidence of violent crime during the last decade and a half.  Between 1995 and 2007 violent crime declined almost 47% and property crime dropped about 48%.

But one crime that is still top of mind for DC law enforcement is that of drunk driving.  Drunk driving is a serious crime in the District of Columbia.  There is a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving in the DC area so driving with any amount of alcohol in your system can result in an arrest.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving offense in the Washington DC area, it is important that you take immediate action in order to protect your rights and privileges.  The laws related to driving while intoxicated in DC are complicated and formulating a defense for this crime is a time-consuming and overwhelming task for most laypersons.  For this reason, it is important that you contact a qualified DUI attorney to review your case.

There are three offenses related to drunk driving in the Washington DC area – driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), and operating while impaired (OWI).  DUI applies if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration is .08% or greater.  A DWI is the charge that is applied if the driver’s BAC is below .08% but there is alcohol present in the driver’s system, and OWI can be charged simply based on the arresting officer’s assessment that the driver is impaired.

The driver’s BAC is determined by a chemical test that requires that the driver provide a blood or breath sample.  There are two cases involved when a driver is arrested for drunk driving.  The first involves the suspension of the driver’s license and is brought by the Department of Motor Vehicles.  This suspension is automatic following the driver’s arrest.  The driver will have 5 days following his or her arrest in which to contest this automatic suspension.  You must act quickly to ensure that your driving privileges are preserved.

The second case that results from a drunk driving arrest is a criminal case.  If convicted of a first offense DUI/DWI/OWI, a driver can expect penalties including significant fines, license suspension, and even jail time.  These penalties will increase in severity if the driver has a previous drunk driving conviction within the past 15 years.

Additionally, a drunk driving conviction will have negative implications for the driver’s ability to maintain auto insurance.  Drivers with a drunk driving record also risk problems with their employment, particularly if their profession or position requires security clearance.

The risks to your way of life are too great in these cases.  You need a legal professional to walk with you through this difficult time.  Contact an experienced DUI/DWI/OWI lawyer today.

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