Whatever the circumstances surrounding your arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol, from the moment police pulled you over, your rights were at risk. Even if you have no prior experience with OUI charges, you likely understood immediately the long-reaching consequences you would face if convicted. Once at the police station, Massachusetts police asked you to submit to a breath test, and it registered your blood alcohol content at .08.
Reformers changing sentencing guidelines
The bipartisan First Step bill seeks to change the federal sentencing laws, but there are reports that District Attorneys are already on board at the state and local levels. According to a recent story in the New York Times, there is a wave DAs across the country from both Republican and Democratic backgrounds that are taking a restorative approach to prosecuting and sentencing. Examples of this new approach include:
Police train to better recognize drivers intoxicated on marijuana
The legalization of marijuana use Massachusetts has prompted law enforcement to train to better recognize drivers under the influence. The two-day training is called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and is the first step towards certification in drug recognition. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with additional input from the Association of Chiefs of Police and others in law enforcement developed it.
Federal judges allows DUI case to continue without evidence
Utah is already famous for its stringent laws regarding alcohol consumption, and soon will have the toughest DUI laws in the country. So some locals were not surprised when a woman was charged with DUI despite the fact that she had a blood alcohol level of .01 from one beer she had at lunch.
Could answering a simple question incriminate you?
Going out for a few drinks with friends may be a pastime you enjoy. Settling in behind a few beers or other alcoholic beverages may give you time to catch up on your week and inform your friends about any news in your life. Of course, at the end of the night, you want to get home safely, so you curb your drinking to a responsible amount.
