If you’ve been charged with a drunk driving offense, let the experienced attorneys at Shaheen & Gordon help you. Our clients are charged with all types of drunk driving offenses, from D.W.I. (1st offense) and D.W.I. (subsequent offense) to Aggravated D.W.I. and Negligent Homicide.

 

Our trial lawyers are former State and federal prosecutors and seasoned criminal defense attorneys. Put their experience to work for you. With the consequences so severe, get the assistance of an experienced D.W.I. lawyer. It can make a critical difference in understanding your options, negotiating a plea bargain or winning your case at trial.

 

The charge of “Driving While Intoxicated” (D.W.I.) is also commonly referred to as “Driving Under the Influence” (D.U.I.), or “Operating Under the Influence” (O.U.I.). Although the wording is slightly different, D.W.I., D.U.I. and O.U.I. mean the same thing. However, the penalties for a D.W.I./D.U.I./O.U.I. vary from State to State, as do the procedural steps that must be taken in court and before the motor vehicle bureau.

 

The charge of D.W.I. may at first seem straight forward and simple. The reality is much different. D.W.I. cases can include many different legal and factual issues ranging from whether the police stopped your car illegally, whether the police correctly administered the standardized field sobriety tests, whether the police had sufficient evidence to arrest you for D.W.I., whether you were appropriately advised of your rights before submitting to a breath or blood test, whether the breath test machine was certified, was the police officer who administered the breath test certified to operate the machine and did the officer comply with all of the laws and regulations governing breath tests. If a blood sample was taken similar questions arise about whether the police officer complied with the law and regulations for obtaining the blood samples, was the integrity of the blood sample maintained and was the blood sample tested by the State Laboratory in accordance with the required protocols. Sometimes the questions raised in D.W.I. cases can require expert witnesses in areas such as toxicology or relative to the how physical disabilities or limitations can affect a person’s performance during field sobriety tests.

 

Additionally, a conviction for a D.W.I. offense can have significant collateral consequences that are not immediately apparent. Most people know that if you’re convicted of a D.W.I. you lose your license and have to pay a fine. However, many people are not aware that you can be subject to a mandatory jail sentence. You are also required to “complete” an impaired diver intervention program before you can get your license back. The type of program you have to complete depends on the type of D.W.I. charge. “Completing” this program can sometimes require you to do a substantial amount of additional counseling with a licensed substance abuse counselor. Your insurance will also be affected. In order to get your license back in New Hampshire or Maine you will have to have your car insurance company file an SR-22 with the Department of Motor Vehicles. By comparison, Massachusetts does not have an SR-22 requirement. An SR-22 is proof of insurance and is generally much more costly than a standard car insurance policy. When you get your license back in New Hampshire you will have what is called a “probationary license” for a period of 5 years. This means that you can not drive a motor vehicle with a BrAC or BAC (Breath Alcohol Concentration or Blood Alcohol Concentration) of .03 or more. If you do, you are subject to an administrative license suspension, even if you are not “under the influence” of alcohol. Further, if you have a probationary license and you refuse to take a breath or blood test you are subject to an administrative license suspension, even if you are not “under the influence” of alcohol. When you get your license back in Maine you will have what is called a “conditional license” for a period of one year for a first offense and for 10 years for a second or subsequent offense. In Maine this means you can not drive with “any amount” of alcohol in your blood during the time you hold a conditional license. In contrast, Massachusetts does not impose a conditional or probationary license status when you get your license back.

 

Put our experience and knowledge to work for you. Let us help you navigate through the legal mine fields that result from a D.W.I. charge. With the consequences so severe, get the assistance of an experienced D.W.I. lawyer. It can make a critical difference in understanding your options, negotiating a plea bargain or winning your case at trial.

 

Contact the attorneys at Shaheen & Gordon today, because the best legal minds belong in your corner.