A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is a police officer trained to recognize the signs of impairment caused by drugs other than alcohol, according to the U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While nearly all police officers are trained to recognize the signs that a driver might be driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), not all officers are trained to recognize the signs that a driver might be impaired by illegal or prescription drugs, nor which types of drugs might be involved. DREs receive this training.
DRE training is intended to teach officers how to identify possible drug-related impairment and put symptoms together to make an educated guess as to what types of drugs might be involved. While the NHTSA notes that laboratory testing is required to conclusively identify the presence and type of drugs in a driver’s system, DRE training groups symptoms into categories to allow officers to guess what general type of drugs – such as amphetamines or narcotics – a driver may have used. These guesses are often used as the basis for arrests, even if no conclusive laboratory tests had yet been performed.
New Hampshire law makes it illegal to drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs or both, and the penalties that come with a conviction can be stiff. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, the experienced NH DWI defense lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, please call us today at (603) 624-3700.
A driver who is convicted of certain traffic or criminal violations may be designated a “habitual offender” by the Division of Motor Vehicles. Being put on “habitual offender” status may result in losing one’s license for up to four (4) additional years. Anyone charged with DWI must carefully consider the possibility of being certified as a Habitual Offender.
The list of convictions that may trigger habitual offender certification is long, and it includes several drunk-driving-related convictions. These include driving under the influence of drugs or liquor (DUI) and aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI), as well as several offenses that might be connected to a DUI/DWI in certain cases, such as reckless driving. If a driver is convicted of at least three of these offenses, he or she may be certified a “habitual offender.”
Several less-serious convictions can also result in a habitual offender designation if a driver receives twelve or more convictions for them. While these convictions may apply to drivers who are sober, they may also apply in certain DWI cases, depending on the facts. These convictions include illegally crossing solid lines on highways, speeding, not meeting New Hampshire license requirements, and failing to provide an SR-22 proof of insurance when required. An SR-22 is frequently required after a DUI conviction, so drivers who have been convicted of one of these offenses are at risk of another conviction if they don’t provide the required SR-22.
Even a single DUI conviction or related conviction can have serious consequences. If you’re facing drunk driving charges in New Hampshire, the experienced NH DUI attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can build an aggressive defense that fights for your rights. Call us today at 1-603-624-3700 for a free and confidential consultation by phone. You may also visit our Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Facebook page for valuable information and topics of interest.
Police officers are trained to recognize a wide range of moving violations made by vehicles, since part of their job is to ticket drivers who aren’t following traffic laws. Officers are also trained to look for potential “intoxicated driving” behaviors when detecting drunk driving in New Hampshire. Any of these behaviors might draw an officer’s attention to a vehicle or prompt the officer to pull the vehicle over to see if the driver might be intoxicated.
Weaving or drifting. Cars that weave back and forth in the lane or drift gradually from one side to the other may attract an officer’s attention, since an intoxicated driver may have difficulty keeping the vehicle traveling in a straight line.
Crossing lane lines. Weaving, drifting, or swerving across the lines that mark the lanes or sides of the road might also catch an officer’s eye, as might driving while straddling a lane line.
Sudden, unexplained stops or jerky acceleration. Since alcohol and many drugs make it harder for a person to make quick decisions, an officer who sees a car stop for no reason in the roadway, stop at a green light or before a turn, or speed up and slow down quickly may guess that the driver is having trouble making decisions – and that intoxication may be the culprit.
These and other behaviors may prompt an officer to pull over a car in order to see whether the driver is intoxicated. However, many of these behaviors have valid explanations that don’t violate any laws. If you’ve been charged with NH DWI, feel free to get in touch with the experienced New Hampshire DWI attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at 1-603-624-3700 or our Free Helpline at 1-888-511-1010.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, issues several reports each year that explore various issues related to drunk driving and other driving-related issues. Recently, NHTSA conducted a fifty-state survey of the methods states use to allow people to report drivers whom they suspect are driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (DUI).
According to NHTSA, 45 U.S. states allow drivers to call 911 to report suspected drunk drivers. New Hampshire is one of these states. Only six states, however, have dedicated lines for drivers to call only if they want to report a potentially drunk driver. New Hampshire once had a similar program, known as DWI/REDDI. The DWI/REDDI program was operated by the New Hampshire State Police and gave people a specific number to call if they thought they had spotted a drunk driver. However, New Hampshire no longer promotes the program and its use has declined sharply.
Callers who dial 911 to report a suspected drunk driver are asked for several different pieces of information. These include the car’s license plate number, the location, and a description of the driver and/or the car. According to NHTSA, New Hampshire callers usually report drivers who are failing to stay in their lane on the road or who are having problems with braking or vehicle control. Most reports occur in summer and in daylight hours.
Evaluating a driver’s impairment is difficult even for professionals, let alone for the average citizen. If you’ve been charged with drunk driving in New Hampshire, the knowledgeable New Hampshire DWI defense lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. will examine your case thoroughly and fight for you to ensure the best result possible under the law. Contact Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at 1-888-511-1010 for a free telephone consultation.
Like every other U.S. state, New Hampshire law prohibits driving a car, truck or other motor vehicle if the driver is intoxicated by alcohol. New Hampshire is also one of the states that prohibits both drivers and passengers from transporting an open container of alcohol in a moving motor vehicle. In New Hampshire, neither a driver nor a passenger may have an open container of liquor or any other alcohol-containing beverage in the passenger area of the vehicle. Drivers who are convicted of transporting an open alcohol container may have their drivers’ licenses revoked for up to two years.
New Hampshire does recognize an exception to this law, however. An open alcohol container that is stored in the trunk or in the “least accessible area†of the vehicle is permitted. The container must stay in the trunk or an inaccessible area while the vehicle is on public roads or in any public parking lot.
In addition, New Hampshire prohibits minors under age 21 from transporting alcohol in a vehicle, even if the containers are sealed, except in two specific conditions. First, a minor under 21 may drive a vehicle carrying alcohol containers if a parent, legal guardian, or spouse who is 21 or older is also in the car. Also, drivers between 18 and 21 years old can drive a vehicle carrying alcohol if they are doing so for work.
Having your license suspended or revoked due to a drunk driving or other alcohol-related conviction can impose a serious hardship on you and your family. If you’ve been charged with DWI or a similar offense in New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to contact the skilled New Hampshire DWI defense lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Call 1-888-511-1010 today for a free phone consultation.
Not all people who are charged with driving under the influence, or DUI, decide to go to trial. However, since each person charged with any crime in New Hampshire, including drunk driving, has the right to a trial, police officers who arrest drivers on suspicion of DUI must prepare to testify in court in each case.
When preparing to testify in court on New Hampshire drunk driving cases, police are trained to pay close attention to drivers that they stop on suspicion of drunk driving, as well as to take thorough notes. Officers then use their recollections from a particular shift, as well as their notes, to prepare a police report describing the events they recall happening that lead to their decision to arrest a particular driver.
Since most police officers deal with several traffic stops in one shift and several dozen stops in one week, they cannot usually recall any one traffic stop with perfect clarity. They may review their notes before trial and recite that information instead, including any errors the officer made in taking the notes in the first place.
The experienced New Hampshire DUI lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. know how to handle an officer who recites information from notes instead of from memory, and how to use that information to fight for the best possible outcome in a client’s case. To learn more about how Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you fight your NH DUI charge, call 1-888-511-1010 for a confidential consultation.
The State of New Hampshire has three (3) separate alcohol programs for drivers convicted of DWI. Drivers convicted of an aggravated DWI, or a second drunk driving charge, face much stiffer penalties than those who have only received one DWI conviction. Part of any DWI penalty includes enrollment in one of New Hampshire’s Alcohol Education Programs.
Upon conviction for an aggravated DWI or second offense DWI in New Hampshire, a driver is typically sentenced to at least three (3) to thirty (30) days in jail. As part of the Multiple Offender Program (M.O.P.), otherwise known as the Phase II Program, the driver spends seven days in inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug use. In order to successfully complete the MOP program, a driver must complete the following steps:
- A one-hour intake interview;
- Seven (7) consecutive days at the residential program;
- Education including information about alcohol and drugs, group therapy, and self-assessment;
- A one-hour final interview; and
- Meeting all recommendations for continuing therapy or aftercare.
Until these requirements are met, a driver will not be able to have their license restored.
The fee for the Multiple Offender Program is currently one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750) and covers room and board as well as treatment for the required seven (7) days.
A drunk driving conviction in New Hampshire carries penalties which include one of New Hampshire’s Alcohol Education Programs. If you have been charged with drunk driving in New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced New Hampshire DWI lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will examine your case carefully and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Call 1-888-511-1010 today to schedule a confidential case evaluation.
Located in Rockingham County, the town of Derry is the fourth most populous community in New Hampshire with an estimated population of 34,021. Sometimes referred to by its nickname, “Space-town”, Derry is the birthplace of the first U.S. astronaut in space, Alan Shepard. The town of Derry has a population density of 950.7 people per square mile within its total area of 36.7 square miles. With some of the most densely-populated sections of the town situated on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 28 and New Hampshire Route 102, similar to other busy towns, residents and visitors of Derry encounter their share of arrests for drunk driving.
A person may be pulled over by law enforcement for DWI in Derry if he or she is seen swerving, turning illegally or suddenly, coming close to hitting an object or another vehicle, weaving across lane lines, and for other similar driving behaviors. However, a DUI arrest in New Hampshire does not automatically confirm a DWI conviction. An experienced Derry DUI defense attorney will thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding your case and build a strong defense on your behalf.
At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our skilled Derry drunk driving lawyers understand the many challenges you face in the wake of a DUI arrest. Our legal team has a long history of aggressively defending individuals accused of a wide range of drunk driving offenses in New Hampshire. DWI penalties are too severe for you to delay in contacting a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. Call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at 1-888-511-1010 for a free consultation and visit our DWI website at http://www.nh-dwilawyers.com/ for more information.
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Candia is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire with an estimated population of 4,177. As a relatively busy town, Candia residents and visitors enjoy a wide range of activities at the local Liquid Planet Water Park, Charmingfare Farm, Candia Vineyards, Fitts Museum, and other establishments. Candia has a land area of 30.3 square miles and a population density of 137.4 persons. Two major state highways, Route 43 and Route 101 pass through Candia, putting law enforcement on particular alert for drunk drivers.
Being arrested for drunk driving in Candia is something that no one ever expects will happen to them. An individual may be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), otherwise referred to as driving while intoxicated (DWI), in addition to being charged with the per se law of driving with 0.08% or higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, there is room for error and inaccuracy in blood alcohol testing and preliminary breath testing used to determine a person’s BAC.
Some potential Candia DUI penalties include license suspension, jail time, large fines, points on your driver’s license, and attending an impaired driver intervention program. However, these consequences may only be the beginning for someone who has had previous DWI convictions in New Hampshire. Whether you or someone you care about has been arrested for DUI as a first offense or DUI causing injury, seeking legal counsel and representation from an experienced Candia DWI defense lawyer can make all the difference in retaining driving privileges and obtaining a positive case outcome.
The aggressive and knowledgeable New Hampshire drunk driving defense attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. have an extensive history of defending those accused of various DWI offenses. Every day counts after a DUI arrest. If you have been charged with driving under the influence in New Hampshire, contact the skilled legal team at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Call 1-888-511-1010 for a free consultation or visit our DUI website at http://www.nh-dwilawyers.com/.
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The New Hampshire State Liquor Commissioner has been charged with driving while intoxicated after being arrested on Saturday, April 17. According to a wmur.com article, the Commissioner was pulled over near Gilford and failed a field sobriety test before refusing to submit to a breathalyzer. He was taken to Belknap County Jail and charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding before being released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail.
Field sobriety tests (SFST’s) in New Hampshire are subjective experiments conducted by law enforcement officials to determine if a person was driving while impaired. These tests are performed in order to evaluate coordination, mental awareness, motor function and ability to pay attention. A person may refuse to submit to such tests by communicating to the officer that he/she wishes to speak to an attorney. Given their subjective nature, field sobriety tests are prone to inaccuracies and flaws. For example, it is possible to fail such a test due to nervousness, poor balance or a legitimate medical condition. If you have been subjected to field sobriety tests and subsequently charged with DWI, you will need to contact a New Hampshire DWI lawyer who can help you contest the officer’s subjective findings and the charge.
The skilled and aggressive DWI lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. may be able to establish that such SFST’s tests were flawed, inaccurate or that the results were otherwise wrongly interpreted. Before you plead guilty to a DWI in New Hampshire, speak to an experienced DWI lawyer in New Hampshire about your case. The attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. frequently handle criminal and administrative hearings related to DWI charges, and are here to ensure that your case is handled effectively. Call 1-888-511-1010 for an immediate free consultation.
