When a Massachusetts law enforcement officer stops your car and believes you may be under the influence, he or she may ask you to take a breath or blood test to assess your degree of intoxication. The officer may pressure you to submit to such a test because a...
What should you do if the police come knocking?
It is crucial to understand your rights when dealing with law enforcement. Not only can this help you in the moment when dealing with police, but it can also help you in the long term if you end up having to go to court. One of the first ways you can protect yourself...
Assault and battery involving a family or household member
Individuals may face allegations of domestic violence when an incident involves a former spouse or other significant life partner. As defined on the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website, two unmarried individuals or parents who have a child...
Arson laws in Massachusetts
Insurance Fraud and Arson According to FindLaw, arson occurs when a person “willfully and maliciously” sets fire to physical property. For arson to occur, it must take place without the property owner’s consent and/or for the purpose of defrauding an insurer. Though...
Why your attorney should take OUI charges seriously
There is no question that the suffering and loss caused by drunk driving accidents is a heartache no family should have to endure. To this end, over the past decades, lawmakers have heard the voices of organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and tightened...
Some tests by law enforcement may be optional in an OUI stop
Nothing can ruin a workday or weekend quite like seeing a patrol car's flashing lights in your rear view mirror, bringing on the realization that a Massachusetts police officer is pulling you over in a traffic stop. In situations like this, it's not uncommon for...
Failing these tests can change your life
If you were to say that you sometimes drive home after having a beer or glass of wine with friends on a night out in Massachusetts, you definitely would not be the first person to admit such things. Driving after consuming minimal amounts of alcohol does not...
Did your minty breath taint the results of a Breathalyzer test?
It's not uncommon to want fresh breath when you're going on a date. Most Massachusetts residents can relate to wanting to look and feel their best when planning a night out with a special someone. Nothing can ruin a date quicker, however, than getting pulled over on...
Don’t make bad go to worse in a traffic stop
The last thing you need on your way home from work at the end of a long week is to see flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror and a Massachusetts police officer behind the wheel of the car behind you. That is not the way you would typically want to kick...
Do I have to participate in field sobriety testing?
If a police officer pulls you over on suspicion of driving under the influence in Massachusetts, you'll likely be asked to participate in some tests to check for impairment. Called field sobriety tests, these tests check for both physical ability and mental...
