operation and DUI

Search and Seizure in Maine: Fighting Illegal Traffic Stops

Published on: January 27, 2021 | by Webb Law Firm

By Webb Law Firm, With Law Offices Near Me in Portland Maine and Saco ME

No other nation except the United States has the Fourth Amendment protections that require a police officer to have information of a crime having been committed before “seizing” a person. When a driver is on the highway, the act of a government law officer seizing that person happens by signaling with emergency lights, using siren or even hand signals, to pull over.

Since the US Supreme Court clarified the issue in 1961, in Mapp v. Ohio, the federal constitutional rule applies to but state and federal officers. Many of the nation’s best criminal cases have been appeals from DUI-OUI arrests made after an officer acted on a hunch, and did not have reasonable suspicion.

What Is the Cost of an OUI in Maine?

Published on: May 11, 2020 | by Webb Law Firm

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After getting an OUI/DUI in Maine, there is often lots of questions that may come into your mind. Most of them have answers that can be found. One that is much harder to track down is the costs and fees that come from an OUI in Maine.

Court Costs

A first offense OUI is a Class D crime, which has a maximum jail sentence of 364 days, and a maximum fine of $2,000. The mandatory minimum penalties are a fine of $500, plus court fees. Court costs often change due to added surcharges which are 20% or more of the actual fine amount, therefore the $500 fine really ends up being closer to $650. If you refused to submit to a test, you will then face a mandatory minimum fine of $600 plus the 20% or more surcharge so the fine would be around $785.

What are the First Things to Look for in my OUI/DUI Police Report?

Published on: April 20, 2020 | by Webb Law Firm

dui_seminar-300x225 When will I get the report?

Many people put in requests for their police reports and expect them within a few days of their arrest. Even though they are YOUR reports, it is unrealistic for the officer and the PD to get them out to you that quickly. You will most likely not get any reports until your first court date when you have your arraignment. Unfortunately, this is often several weeks and sometimes up to two months after your arrest.

How should I read the report?

Road Side Trick Question

Published on: March 30, 2020 | by Webb Law Firm

IMG_1832x-286x300 By: Attorney Vincent S. LoConte

What is the question?

Often in a traffic stop when an officer suspects impairment, they will ask the question “on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being sober and 10 being pass out drunk, how would you rate yourself”. Seems like a straight forward question, but is it really fair, and is there a right and wrong answer?

Can I Get a Maine OUI If My Car Was Parked?

Published on: January 14, 2012 | by Webb Law Firm

Maine OUI Parked Car Engine Off You can be charged with DUI even when you are not driving. Every state has a law that says it is illegal to drive under the influence. What many people do not realize is that most states have some variation of this law that allows police to charge you even when you are not actually driving (DUI parked car).

Depending on the state, a person can often be charged with attempting to drive or operate or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence. Usually the penalties are the same as for driving under the influence.

Attempting to operate usually means someone is trying to drive the car. In Maine, “operating” means putting power to the wheels and moving the car. Attempting to operate means trying to do that. Trying to operate includes taking a substantial step toward operating.

I Got a DUI-OUI-DWI – Now What?

Published on: January 7, 2012 | by Webb Law Firm

OUI-300x200 If you get a DUI it is very important that you get a good DUI lawyer right away. If you wait, the chances of losing the case and losing your license get much, much worse. You may lose the chance to fight your license suspension if you wait too long. Equally as bad, critical evidence may be destroyed – that’s evidence you need to win.

Most states have a procedure that suspends your license for DUI or refusing a test BEFORE your court date. In some states the police take your license when they arrest you. In other states the Motor Vehicles department gets notice from the police about the DUI. Motor Vehicles then sends you notice of suspension that your license will be suspended soon. You have a right to fight this suspension, no matter which way they do it. But that right requires you to tell Motor Vehicles you want to fight it. The time to let them know is limited. In my state, Maine, you have ten days from the date of suspension to challenge the suspension. If you don’t file your challenge within those ten days, you can never challenge it.

Evidence you need to win your case may be lost if you don’t take steps to save it. Police video cameras record to hard drives. After a couple of weeks many of those hard drives start to record over the old recordings. Unless you put the police on notice that you want the video saved, you may LOSE IT FOREVER. That video may be the only evidence you have to prove the cop wrong. If there is no video it is your word against the cop’s word. Who do you think they will believe?

Maine goes crazy on drug DUI law – LD 1491

Published on: May 2, 2011 | by Webb Law Firm

drug-300x225 I thought I had seen about everything in the DUI law area. Then the Maine prosecutors decided to try change the law about drugs and driving. Right now the LD 1491 is up in front of the state legislature and they are considering it. Listen to this.

Here is what the new law says:

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles can take your license: