Top Rated Rhode Island DUI Lawyer
Facing a Rhode Island DUI charge can be a terrifying experience. If you are like most people, you may not know where to turn. We can help. Marin and Barrett, Inc.'s team of local defense lawyers have been repeatedly selected as one of the TOP THREE BEST RHODE ISLAND DUI ATTORNEYS by Three Best Rated. Former DUI clients and peers have also consistently rated their lawyers one the best Rhode Island DUI attorneys. For ten straight years ('14-'23), Attorney Marin has been selected by SuperLawyers as one of Rhode Island's best criminal defense attorneys and his defense strategies (for DUI and Chemical Test Refusal violations) have been featured in the Providence Journal and Rhode Island Lawyer's Weekly.
Get Your BEST DUI Defense!
2023 Top Rated Rhode Island DUI Attorneys
Available 24/7 at 401-228-8271
As local drunk driving lawyers, we concentrate our efforts on providing the best defense to those charged in our major cities and towns like Warwick, Cranston, Westerly and North Kingstown as well as defending the large number individuals arrested and charged by the Rhode Island State Police with DUI.
We understand what is personally at stake for you – a potential criminal conviction, jail sentence, suspension of your driver's license, and impact on your job, your family, and your reputation. That's why we give each client the personalized attention their case needs to achieve the best possible result. Our clients appreciate this approach and we are very proud of what our former clients have to say about us online in places like Google, Facebook, and AVVO. The Rhode Island DUI lawyers Marin and Barrett, Inc. have received over 400 online reviews with an average rating 5.0 out of 5 stars. Please see our Client Reviews page for a compilation of their testimonials and to understand why. We are available 24/7 at 401-228-8271 to discuss your case and how we can help you.
In Rhode Island, a drunk driving or drugged driving allegation is a criminal charge that carries the possibility of a prison sentence and suspension of your driver's license. Rhode Island drunk driving laws carry mandatory minimum jail sentences for subsequent offenses, and for first offenses that have aggravating circumstances. Some judges impose jail sentences even in first offense driving under the influence cases. A guilty verdict or poorly negotiated plea can stick with you for the rest of your life. If you have been recently arrested for driving under the influence, contact the experienced defense attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. today for immediate legal advice and excellent representation.
One of Our Former DUI Client's 5 Star Reviews of Marin and Barrett:
At Marin and Barrett, Inc. Our Primary Focus is on Drunk Driving Defense
As experienced criminal defense lawyers, we focus a major portion of our practice defending those individuals facing driving under the influence charges in Rhode Island (commonly referred to as DUI, DWI, or OUI charges). We have more than 25 years of experience defending the accused and we have NEVER prosecuted DUI cases. Our DUI defense strategies have been featured in the Providence Journal (May 2015 & June 2015) and Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly (most recently August 2017) numerous times.
Unlike most areas of criminal defense, Rhode Island DUI defense is an area of law in which an experienced defense attorney can challenge and beat cases in which the typical client or inexperience attorney may believe there is no chance of success. These charges are extremely technical and to successfully prosecute a case the prosecutor must prove that the police complied with literally dozens of statutory and regulatory provisions. Follow the links below to learn more about DWI charges, penalties, and possible defenses from our experienced defense lawyers or call us now for immediate defense assistance at 401-228-8271 or you can email us at [email protected]
RI DUI Attorney Marin Explains the DUI Laws and Penalties in Rhode Island
Follow the links below to learn more about Marin and Barrett's legal experience as DUI defense attorneys and to review the laws applicable to DUI cases.
- Drunk Driving Trials
- Drunk Driving Penalties
- 1st Offense DUI Charges
- 2nd Offense DUI Charges
- Felony DUI Charges
- Chemical Test Refusal Penalties
- 1st Offense Refusal Lawyer
- Field Sobriety Tests
- DUI Expungement
- FAQ's Answered Regarding Rhode Island DUI Charges
- About Attorney Matthew T. Marin
Recent 2022 DUI Defense Case Result
CHARGE: FIRST OFFENSE DUI CHARGE (BAC OVER 0.15)
POLICE REPORT: Attorney Nicholas Parrillo of Marin & Barrett, Inc. is pleased to report a great outcome for a client accused of drunk driving in Rhode Island. In June, our Client crashed his motor vehicle onto a front law and the Rhode Island Police were called to the scene. Once the Client was stopped, the Police Officer smelled alcohol on her breath and our client admitted to drinking earlier that evening. The Client then became combative and refused to submit to standardized field sobriety testing. He was then arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Once at the station, the took a breathalyzer test and which registered results indicating that his blood alcohol concentration was well above the legal limit and in-fact above 0.15. After being hired to defend the case, we began to formulate a defense strategy. We made strong and persuasive arguments to the Prosecution and the Judge that, without field sobriety tests, the Police Officers lacked probable cause to arrest our Client for suspicion of DUI. Additionally, based on the science behind breath testing we were able to devise a strategy that pointed out the State's inability to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that our Client's blood alcohol concentration was in-fact above the legal limit. After several pretrial conferences, the State agreed to dismiss the DUI charges entirely. Facing a DUI charge with a lengthy license suspension, hundreds of dollars of fines, mandatory community service, driver retraining, and heavy costs and fees, our Client managed to resolve the case while avoiding a DUI conviction and did not suffer any loss of his drivers license and left him with a clean criminal record. If you or a loved one is facing a first offense DUI charge in Rhode Island, give the DUI lawyers at Marin and Barrett, Inc. a call for immediate and experienced legal advice and representation.
RESULT: DUI CHARGES DISMISSED on JULY 11th, 2022
After you have had an opportunity to review the information on our website, please give serious consideration to speaking directly with our team of defense attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. We will be able to answer your questions, calm your nerves, and provide you with a realistic, no nonsense evaluation of your case. As experienced and locally based defense lawyers, we have handled cases like yours in the past. This means we know what to expect, we can evaluate your case properly, and we can work to achieve the best result possible for you. Call us now for a no obligation DUI defense strategy session at 401-228-8271.
Rhode Island Drunk Driving Laws are complicated and require the expertise and attention of an experienced drunk driving defense attorney. Most first-offense driving under the influence charges in Rhode Island are brought after one of two typical scenarios:
Arrested for DUI After Refusing A Chemical Test: What Happens Next?
A majority of individuals in Rhode Island that are arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence refuse to submit to a chemical test; that can be either a breath test or a blood test. When you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence and Refuse a Chemical Test in Rhode Island you will in fact face two different cases in two different courts. The DUI charge is a criminal offense which is prosecuted initially in the Rhode Island District Court and it carries criminal penalties, including potentially up to one year in jail (even for a first offense). This driving under the influence charge is routinely referred to as a "DUI BAC Unknown."
What does DUI / BAC Unknown mean in RI?
The phrase "DUI BAC Unknown" indicates that the Police allege the Defendant operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol at a time when the Defendant's blood alcohol content was unknown (due to the chemical test refusal). The Refusal Charge is a civil traffic violation which is prosecuted in the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and carries severe civil penalties, including up to a one year loss of your privileges to operate in Rhode Island.
Penalties for DUI (BAC Unknown) in Rhode Island
Arrested for DUI After Failing A Chemical Test: What Happens Next?
If you find yourself charged with driving under the influence in Rhode Island and you submitted to a chemical test, the prosecution of the case against you is based upon your failed breath or blood test. In the case of a failed test, the severity or the degree of your drunk driving charge is based on the results of that breath or blood test. There are three 'brackets' in which the penalties become more severe as blood alcohol content results increase. The brackets for blood alcohol content in Rhode Island are 0.08 to 0.10 (lowest bracket), 0.10 to 0.15 (middle bracket), and 0.15 and above (highest bracket). In terms of legal jargon, the lowest bracket is often referred to as a "0.08 DUI" and the highest bracket is often referred to as a "0.15 DUI" or a "DUI with High Readings."
Penalties for DUI Charges with Readings in Rhode Island
Marin and Barrett, Inc. Received the "10 Best" Award for DUI Defense from 2015 thru 2022
Recently, the attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. were named one of the "10 Best" drunk driving attorneys in the State of Rhode Island from 2015 through 2022 by the American Institute for DUI/DWI Attorneys. This is the fifth year in a row that Attorney Matthew Marin has been named one of Rhode Island's "10 Best." You can visit the American Institute for DUI/DWI Attorney's website and view their ranking and accrediting procedure. To receive the "10 Best" Award, an Attorney must be nominated by the Board, his Client's and/or his Peers and, in addition to other criteria, the Attorney must have a 10/10 in Client Satisfaction.
Providing Cutting Edge DUI Defense as a Member of the National College for DUI Defense
As a Members of the National College for DUI Defense, Attorneys Matthew Marin and Attorney Kensley Barrett are constantly kept abreast of all cutting edge legal decisions and precedents as well as scientific issues and challenges that arise in the practice of drunk driving defense throughout the country. We have argued some of the most cutting edge and front line legal issues related to Rhode Island Drunk Driving Defense. In addition to cutting edge issues, our Membership in the National College for DUI Defense makes available a wide range of legal and scientific resources which is often and consistently utilized in the defense of our Rhode Island DUI clients. The Membership creates a competitive advantage when arguing motions and questioning witnesses and oftentimes prosecutors and other defense attorneys do not have access to this information. For experienced legal representation from skilled defense attorneys, contact Rhode Island DUI Lawyers at Marin and Barrett, Inc. at 401-228-8271 or via email at [email protected].
