Rhode Island DUI/Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer
As your Rhode Island DUI Lawyer, my goal is to get all of your charges in your DUI case dismissed.
If you have been arrested for DUI/Drunk Driving in Rhode Island, you need a strong legal ally who knows the science of disproving breath and blood test results. You need a Rhode Island DUI lawyer who will fight and challenge the State's evidence against you. The repercussions of a Rhode Island DUI/Drunk Driving conviction are great. Without an experienced Rhode Island DUI/Drunk Driving lawyer, the negative consequences from a conviction are very difficult to avoid.
As one of Rhode Island's premier DUI lawyers, I know that the ideal result in a drunk driving (DUI/DWI) case is an absolute dismissal of all charges. Dismissal of all charges could be obtained using various legal strategies. I have been sucessfully defending drunk driving cases in Rhode Island for over 17 years, and the following are some of the many DUI defense strategies that I have used to obtain a dismissal of DUI charges:
- Show that the stop of the vehicle by the police was illegal;
- Show that the standardized field sobriety tests were administered incorrectly by the police officer;
- Show that the breath test was administered improperly and as a result may be inadmissable as evidence;
- Show that the breathalizer machine has not been certified in the last 30 days; and
- Show that the police officer has not been properly certifed within the last year.
Rhode Island DUI laws can be very complicated. You need to know that just because you were arrested for DUI, does not mean that you will be found guilty of a Rhode Island DUI, even if you failed the field sobriety tests and/or a breath test. Not every arrest for drunk driving leads to a conviction. A DUI in Rhode Island is a serious legal matter and not every lawyer is qualified to provide you with the best defense. You need a skilled DUI attorney who knows how to challenge all of the aspects of the State's evidence that have been brought against you. Experienced DUI attorneys know how to dismantle the prosecution’s case, which often leads to a dismissal of your Rhode Island DUI.
A good Rhode Island DUI lawyer is your best bet for creating reasonable doubt and getting your DUI dismissed.
Even though a dismissal of all charges is the ultimate goal, sometimes it may not be possible to obtain a complete dismissal of the drunk driving charge. As a result, an accomplished Rhode Island DUI lawyer will often put pressure on the State to have the defendant plead to a lesser offense, such as reckless driving for a number of beneficial reasons. Some of the many advantages to pleading to a lesser offense than DUI are:
- Shorter or no license suspensions;
- Save money in fines, costs and assessments;
- Avoidance of DUI/DWI school;
- Avoidance of community service;
- Save money on insurance premiums;
- Quicker ability to get cases expunged off of one's record;
- Avoidance of a criminal conviction; and
- Avoidance of mandatory jail for second time DUI offenders.
- Avoidance of stigma of a DUI conviction.
The laws allowing the prosecution to suspend your license have become tougher in recent years. As a result of these tougher laws, an attorney must be highly qualified in the area of DUI/DWI law in order to sucessfully defend against these harsh penalties.
HIRE RHODE ISLAND DUI ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. ZARRELLA TODAY!
I know that being charged with DUI is a daunting experience. I will use my shrewd trial skills and my excellent reputation with the State of Rhode Island's legal office in fighting and winning DUI cases. Not all attorneys take DUI cases to trial, let alone win them. The prosecutors know which attorneys will settle for whatever is offered, and which lawyers will fight and be challenging opponents. You need a Rhode Island DUI lawyer with the skill, experience and know-how to get your Rhode Island DUI dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge.
Failing the Breath Test but Winning the Case
Failing a breath test is not the end all in a DUI case. As a DUI attorney, I often would rather fight a failed breath or blood test than a breathalyzer refusal. The State must jump through many hoops in order to have the test results of either a breath or blood test admitted into evidence. Many defendants believe that if you take the test and fail you have no chance to win the case. This is simply not true. Cases with failed readings are often dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge. Remember in a DUI/Drunk Driving case, the defendant is afforded all the rights granted under our State and Federal Constitutions. The defendant enjoys the presumption of innocence, as well as the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. These rights combined with the obstacle that the State has in introducing breath or blood tests, often leads to defendants getting favorable dispositions.
I have had great success in many DUI cases in which a person has taken and failed a breathalyzer. Often I am able to get either a dismissal of the DUI or a reduction to a much lesser charge.
There are numerous ways to have your DUI readings suppressed. When looking for a lawyer to represent you for your DUI case, make sure he or she is well versed in Rhode Island DUI law. Without the proper knowledge of Rhode Island DUI law, it will be very difficult for your lawyer to suppress the DUI readings and win your case.
If you have further questions regarding Rhode Island DUI's and breathalyzer refusals please read my blog at michaelzarrella.blogspot.com
Rhode Island DUI Penalties
First Time DUI Offender with BAC between .08-.10%
Fined $100-$300
Suspended license for one to six months
One year in jail(No Mandatory Jail)
10-60 hours of community service
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
DUI school and/or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
First Time DUI Offender with no Breath Test or BAC between .10-.15%
Fined $100-$400
Suspended license for 3 Months to 1 year
Up to one year in jail(No Mandatory Jail)
10-60 hours of community service
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
DUI school and/or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
First Time DUI Offender with a BAC of over .15%
Fined $500
Suspended license for 3 Months to 18 Months
Up to one year in jail(No Mandatory Jail)
20-60 hours of community service
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
DUI school and/or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Second Time DUI Offender within Five Years with a BAC between .08-.15% or No Breath Test
Fined $400
Suspended license for 1 year to 2 years
Up to one year in jail(Mandatory Jail of at least 10 Days)
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Alcohol or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Possible installation of an ignition interlock system for up to two years
Second Time DUI Offender with a BAC of .15% or Higher
Fined $1000
Suspended license for 2 years
Up to one year in jail(Mandatory Jail of at least 6 Months)
Face a Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Alcohol or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Possible installation of an ignition interlock system for up to two years
Third Time DUI Offender within Five Years with a BAC between .08-.15%
Felony Conviction
Fined $400
Suspended license for 2 year to 3 years
Up to 3 years in jail(Mandatory Jail of at least 1 year)
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Alcohol or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Installation of an ignition interlock system for up to two years
Third Time DUI Offender with a BAC of over .15% within 5 years
Felony Conviction
Fined $1000-$5000
Suspended license for 3 years
Up to 5 years in jail(Mandatory Jail of at least 3 years)
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Alcohol or drug treatment
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Installation of an ignition interlock system for up to two years
Violator's vehicle may be seized and sold by the state
Rhode Island Breath Test Refusal Penalties
First Refusal of Breath Test
Civil Violation
Suspended license six months to one year
Fine $200-$500
Community Service for 10-60 hours
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
DUI School and/or an alcohol treatment program
Rhode Island Department of Health Fee $200
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Second Refusal of Breath Test within Five Years
Misdemeanor
Up to one year in jail
Fine $600-$1000
Suspended license 1-2 years
60-100 hours of community service
Mandatory alcohol or drug treatment
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Rhode Island Department of Health Fee $200
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
Third Refusal of Breath Test within Five Years
Misdemeanor
Fined $800-$1,000
Up to one year in jail
License suspended 2-5 years
Mandatory 100 hours of community service
Alcohol or drug treatment
Highway Safety Assessment ($500 fee)
Rhode Island Department of Health Fee $200
SR-22 Insurance 3 Years
DUI Defense Service throughout Rhode Island
Rhode Island DUI Attorney Michael J. Zarrella defends those charged with DUI/DWI and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test throughout the State of Rhode Island, including all of the cities and towns in all four counties:
Providence/Bristol Counties DUI Defense Lawyer:
- Barrington
- Bristol
- Burrillville
- Central Falls
- Cranston
- Cumberland
- East Providence
- Foster
- Glocester
- Johnston
- Lincoln
- North Providence
- North Smithfield
- North Scituate
- Pawtucket
- Providence
- Scituate
- Smithfield
- Warren
- Woonsocket
Kent County DUI Defense Lawyer
Washington County/South County DUI Defense Lawyer
- Block Island
- Charlestown
- Exeter
- Hopkinton
- Narragansett
- New Shoreham
- North Kingstown
- Richmond
- South Kingstown
- Westerly
Newport County DUI Defense Lawyer
The protection of your rights in your Rhode Island DUI/drunk driving case begins with hiring Rhode Island DUI defense lawyer Michael Zarrella today!