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July 23, 2008
Drunk-Driving
             
 
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Welcome to Boston OUI.com

 

 
Did You Know?    
 
 
A well known is the fact that the consumption of alcohol can cause impairment
Perhaps less recognized is that fact that impairment rises gradually at a lower level but dramatically at a higher level of blood alcohol concentration BAC. About half of auto fatalities involve drivers with BACs of .16 or higher. Impairment occurs at a lower level, but it's especially important to prevent driving with high BACs.

 

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, or "drunk driving," in Boston is by far the most commonly encountered offense in the courts today. In 2002, it is estimated that nearly 17,500 people were killed in automobile collisions involving alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this represents 41 percent of the 42,815 people killed in all traffic accidents and crashes that year.

 
Massachusetts Drunk Driving BAC Related Deaths    
 
 
Motor Vehicle Fatalities Involving High Blood Alcohol Concentration in Massachusetts
Total fatalities 1995 444
Fatalities involving high blood alcohol 148
Percent 33
Total fatalities 2000 433
Fatalities involving high blood alcohol 153
Percent 35

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts 2000:
 

Defending against a charge of drunk driving in Boston is tricky business. A Boston DUI defense attorney needs to understand scientific and medical concepts, and must be able to question tough witnesses including scientists and police officers.

If you want to fight your drinking and driving charge in Boston, you're well advised to hire an attorney who specializes in these types of cases. They may be able to get you off the hook, or lessen the fine or punishment imposed.

The laws concerning "drunk driving" have changed radically over recent years. A person arrested today for driving under the influence of alcohol ("DUI", also referred to as "DWI" or driving while intoxicated) faces complicated criminal procedures and a potentially devastating punishment that can be more severe than a penalty handed down in a felony case.

An experienced attorney who specializes in blood alcohol analysis and drunk driving cases can effectively handle criminal and administrative proceedings. It is an unfortunate fact, however, that many general practitioners or general criminal attorneys attempt to represent clients with little or no training or experience in this very complex field and the results are disastrous.

Drunk Driving Punishments

The punishment in drunk driving cases is set forth by state statute and can be incredibly complex. The basic statute determines the range of possible sentences, with modifications for such things as:

  • Having a prior conviction within seven years
  • Speeding 20 mph over the limit
  • Having a child under 14 in the car
  • Having a blood alcohol content reading over .20%
  • Refusing to submit to chemical testing

Within the range, the actual sentence in a drunk driving case will be affected by:

  • The facts of the case
  • Any policies of the local court and prosecutors
  • The weaknesses in the case uncovered by the defense attorney
  • The reputation of that attorney
  • All of this is independent of a DMV suspension, which is determined separately and which can be very complicated.

Contact a DUI Lawyer in Boston now!

 
Boston Audio & Video    
 
  DUI Not Grounds for Deportation, High Court Rules
Audio, RM, 44 Kbps, 3:33, 11/9/2004

The Supreme Court rules that driving under the influence is not a crime of violence that can occasion deportation, finding unanimously that the law requires that the defendant showed intent to injure.
Source: National Public Radio
 
 
Boston External Sites    
 
 

RMV - 2003 News Archive - Romney Celebrates Passage of
"Today, Massachusetts has a tough, new drunk driving law on the books," Romney said. ... Enhancement of our drunk driving laws will enable
RMV - Romney Files "Melanie's Bill" to Cr
The bill increases penalties for drunk driving related offenses, ... Currently, drunk drivers who kill in Massachusetts do not automatically lose the

 


  Newsroom  
 


News about DUI & Drunk Driving cases in Boston and nationwide:

State Dot Promotes Youth Traffic Safety
HONOLULU — With the summer in full swing and the 4th of July holiday weekend approaching, the state Department of Transportation continues to empha...
Read more >


New CDC Study Shows Stronger State Prevention Activities May Discourage Alcohol-Impaired Driving
Strong state activities designed to prevent driving under the influence (DUI) may reduce the incidence of drinking and driving, according to a new ...
Read more >


McGreevey Strengthens Law to Detain Drunk Drivers
(CAMDEN)—As part of a series of efforts to keep families and their children safe, Governor James E. McGreevey today signed Senate Bill S-1868, whic...
Read more >


More DUI Drunk Driving News >

 
 

Drunk Driving Terms

 


Today's Terms

Drunk

Definition:
Intoxication as we know it is not required for one to be guilty of drunk driving. Your condition may be enough for you to be found guilty of a drunk driving offense under the current definition of the law.

Legal State Limits

Definition:
Laws for DWI and DUI vary from state-to-state. There is a chart listing state blood alcohol limits, license suspension, ignition interlock and forfeiture penalties.

Reasonable suspicion

Definition:
The officer must have what is legally termed a "reasonable suspicion," based on something unusual that is actually observed about the way a person is driving. This is a very low standard and it can be satisfied by virtually anything which appears out of the ordinary and that might be a sign of a driver being under the influence. In addition, during holiday seasons, police officers typically set up field sobriety checkpoints where they routinely stop every driver who passes through the checkpoint.

More OUI.com Terms >

 

DUI/DWI Resources

 


Search Drunk Driving resources in our resource center:

More Resources >

 

DUI/DWI Hot Topics

 
Topics Related to DUI/DWI:

  • Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
  • Breathalyzer Test
  • Failed Sobriety Test
  • Legal State BAC Limits

More DUI/DWI Topics >

Boston Drunk-Driving Attorney

 
If you live in the following cities and need legal help you should contact our Attorney as soon as possible:

  • Amherst
  • Attleboro
  • Beverly
  • Boston
  • Brighton
  • Brockton
  • Chelsea
  • Everett
  • Fitchburg
  • Framingham
  • Holyoke
  • Lawrence
  • Leominster
  • Lynn
  • Malden
  • Marlborough
  • Medford
  • Methuen
  • New Bedford
  • Peabody
  • Pittsfield
  • Plymouth
  • Quincy
  • Revere
  • Salem
  • Taunton
  • Westfield
  • Woburn
  Need to find a DUI Lawyer Nationwide? Visit DrunkDrivingLawyers.com
 


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