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RHODE ISLAND CRIMINAL DEFENSE BLOG

Twelve Individuals Charged with DUI by the RI State Police over the St. Patrick's Day Weekend

Posted by Matthew Marin | Apr 16, 2014 | 0 Comments

Over the St. Patrick's Day Holiday weekend, the Rhode Island State Police arrested and charged twelve individuals with Driving Under the Influence (RI DUI First Offense).  Those arrests spanned the State, from Richmond to Providence.  However, the vast majority of the arrests were made in Newport County near the timing of the Saturday St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Of the twelve arrests, all were charged with a Rhode Island first offense DUI, meaning that none of the drivers involved had been convicted of a DUI charge, in Rhode Island or elsewhere, within the preceding five years.  A first offense DUI conviction in Rhode Island can carry severe consequences including significant loss of your drivers license, possible incarceration, drunk driving school, substance abuse treatment, and hefty fines and costs.  Your best defense to a first offense DUI charge in Rhode Island is to be represented by an experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled Rhode Island DUI Defense AttorneyAttorney Matthew Marin has the experience and skill you need to fight your first offense DUI charge.

In five cases, the individuals arrested by the Rhode Island State Police refused to submit to a chemical testRefusal to submit to a chemical test is a separate violation and charged in addition to being charged with a first offense DUI.   A charge of refusal to submit to a chemical test is a traffic violation, not a criminal offense.  However, a chemical test refusal charge carries consequences that are, in some cases, significantly more severe than a first offense DUI charge.  First, if you refuse to submit to a chemical test in Rhode Island your drivers license will (typically) be preliminarily suspended.  This means that the Court will suspend your drivers license at the beginning of the case, before you have been found guilty of any wrongdoing.  Second, a chemical test refusal charge carries with it a mandatory minimum license suspension of six months if you are convicted, and the suspension for a first offense can be as long as one year.  This six month mandatory minimum is double the three month mandatory minimum which is available to those charged with a first offense DUI in Rhode Island.

Give us a call 24/7 to discuss your Rhode Island First Offense DUI Charge or Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test Charge today.  At the Law Offices of Matthew T. Marin, Esquire, Inc. we offer a preliminary confidential, no fee consultation where we can sit and discuss your case, outline a defense strategy to put you in the best possible position, and offer you a reasonable price for our services.  We are also available by email at [email protected] or you can fill out the Contact Form on our Website located at https://www.matthewtmarin.com/rhode-island-dui-lawyer.

About the Author

Matthew Marin

My name is Attorney Matthew Marin. I have dedicated my career to defending those charged with criminal offenses throughout Rhode Island. If you have been arrested or are under investigation for a criminal offense, we understand that are likely in an unfamiliar situation that can be extremely intimidating and even paralyzing. You may feel as if you do not know where to turn or who to ask for help. Fortunately, you have come to the right place to begin your search for answers and a successful resolution to your situation. We have extensive experience assisting thousands of clients facing drunk driving charges, domestic violence charges, and drug charges throughout Rhode Island.

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Attorney Marin Named A SuperLawyer for Ten Consecutive Years 2014-2023

Attorney Matthew Marin has been named a Rhode Island SuperLawyer for 10 consecutive years from 2014 thru 2023. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Rhode Island are selected by the Research Team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers selects lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in their practice area.


Rhode Island Members of the National College for DUI Defense

Attorneys Marin and Barrett are both Rhode Island General Members of the National College for DUI Defense. Members represent some of the most experienced and cutting edge DUI defense attorney's throughout the Country. Nationwide, DUI laws are extremely complex and constantly changing and the College facilitates the exchange of innovative defenses throughout the Country.

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