Blog Posts in January, 2011

Warwick DUI Arrest

As reported by Bryan Rourke in the January 31, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a man ran a stop sign and hit a Warwick police cruiser. The police officer and his passenger were both taken to the hospital following the accident. The man has been arrested and charged with drunk driving (DUI) , refusal to submit to a chemical test , possession of marijuana and traffic violations. Pursuant to ...

RI DUI Lawyer Humphrey Lectures at RI Bar Association

I am greatly honored to have once again been asked by the Rhode Island Bar Association to lecture the lawyers of the State of Rhode Island on the successful prosecution and defense of drunk driving (DUI / DWI / OUI) cases. The lecture, which is entitled "Drunk Driving: Detection, Prosecution and Defense," is the 2011 DUI Update for the members of the Rhode Island Bar Association. Initially this ...

Rhode Island Marijuana Bill Introduced

As reported by Katherine Gregg in the January 19, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a new bill to decriminalize marijuana has been introduced to the Rhode Island General Assembly. A representative has proposed decriminalizing possession of marijuana of less than one ounce. Instead of a criminal charge, it would be considered a civil violation and punishable by a $150.00. Under current Rhode ...

RI State Trooper Charged with DUI

As reported by Tatiana Pina in the January 25, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a Rhode Island State Police Trooper has been arrested for drunk driving (DUI) . The off-duty trooper was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He hit an off-duty Providence Police Officer. The Trooper was arrested and submitted to the breathalyzer test with results over .15 Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, ...

Pawtucket Texting While Driving

As reported in both the January 21, 2011 and 24, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a Pawtucket woman and her children were injured in a car accident. The woman and her children were walking in the street because the sidewalk was covered by snow. A motorist, who was texting while driving, struck the woman and her children. The woman and two (2) of her children suffered minor injuries. The ...

Tiverton DUI Accident Charge Dismissed

In December of 2010, our Client was charged by the Tiverton Police with drunk driving (DUI) . It was alleged that our Client drove off the road into the nearby woods and that alcohol was a factor in the accident. Under Rhode Island General Law 31-27-2, the penalties for DUI - 1 st offense include: Every person found to have violated subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be sentenced as follows: ...

Smithfield Cyberbullying

As reported by Katie Mulvaney in the January 19, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a Smithfield high school student has been accused of cyber bullying/cyber stalking. The student allegedly created a fictitious Facebook page, pretending to be a fellow classmate. The student has been charged with cyber stalking and for knowingly posting false or misleading information. Pursuant to Rhode Island ...

Stiffer Penalties for RI DUI Charges

As reported by Tracy Breton in the January 19, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a new bill has been proposed to increase the penalties for drunk driving (DUI) and Refusal cases. The bill was introduced to the Rhode Island General Assembly last week and contains many proposed changes to the current DUI laws. Currently, the Rhode Island District Court hears DUI cases, while the Rhode Island ...

Narragansett Domestic Disorderly Conduct Charge Dismissed

In December of 2010, our Client was charged by the Narragansett Police Department with a domestic disorderly conduct charge in violation of R.I.G.L. 11-45-1 /12-29-5. Domestic violence is defined as including, but is not limited to, any of the following offenses when committed by one family or household member against another: simple assault, felony assault , vandalism, disorderly conduct, ...

Pawtucket Child Molestation Trial

As reported by Thomas Morgan in the January 11, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a Pawtucket man was found guilty of two (2) counts of 2 nd degree child molestation . After trial, jury found him guilty, but he will be sentenced by a Judge in March of 2011. Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, 11-37-8.3, 2 nd degree child molestation is defined as a person is guilty of a second degree ...

Rhode Island DUI Penalties

As reported by Peter Elsworth in the January 8, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are lobbying for changes to the DUI laws. MADD wants Rhode Island to require ignition interlocks as a penalty for a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction. Ignition interlocks are installed in vehicles and have a mouthpiece attached to them. Ignition interlocks require ...

West Warwick DUI Arrest

As reported by Bryan Rourke in the January 7, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, a West Warwick man was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Connecticut. Police officers responded to a call of a man speeding and clocked the man driving over 85 m.p.h. The police used speed sticks in an attempt to slow the driver down. The man was finally stopped after crashing into the police ...

Narragansett Party House Stickers Constitutional

As reported by Katie Mulvaney in the January 6, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, the 1 st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Town of Narragansett's sticker policy is constitutional. In response to complaints by residents, the Town of Narragansett passed an ordinance allowing for police to place stickers on so called "party houses" that are considered to be a nuisance. The ...

Newport Assault Arrests

As reported by Bryan Rourke in the January 4, 2011 edition of the Providence Journal, two (2) Newport women were arrested after they began fighting with each other. Both women are now facing criminal charges as a result. Allegedly one woman tried to enter the other woman's apartment. A fight broke out, the woman used her fists, while the other woman responded by using a knife. The first woman is ...

Newport DUI Arrests

As reported in the January 3, 2011 edition of the Newport Daily News, there were three (3) driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in Newport over the holiday weekend. All three drivers were pulled over by police for traffic violations and then subsequently arrested. One of the drivers is also charged with Refusal to submit to the chemical test . Another driver did submit to the chemical test ...