Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald, Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island
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The Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. has over 25 years of experience helping clients win their drunk driving cases. Rhode Island DUI Lawyer John E. MacDonald has successfully provided a strong DUI defense for clients who were charged with the most serious alcohol-related driving offense —drunk driving, death resulting. We also regularly achieve extraordinary results for clients who are charged in Rhode Island and Massachusetts with drunk driving charges and with breath test refusal charges.
Rhode Island DUI attorney John E. MacDonald represents drivers charged with the most serious vehicular homicide cases in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. For example, we represented a driver who was accused of driving while intoxicated, death resulting. After conducting extensive negotiations, doing sentencing research, drafting a sentencing memorandum, and zealously arguing our client’s case, the DUI charges were reduced and our client was not sentenced to any time in jail. To discuss the specifics of your DUI case or hear more about our many successful DUI case results, contact the Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc. today to schedule a free consultation.
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Rhode Island contact the Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at 401.421.1440 for a free consultation.
When working with a DUI attorney from our law office, you can expect results such as the following:
DUI Dismissed and Criminal History Sealed – Client was charged with a first offense DUI and a refusal to submit to a chemical test, in this case a breathalyzer. Attorney MacDonald was hired and immediately went to work reviewing the police reports and witness statements. Flaws relating to the initial stop of the vehicle resulted in the dismissal of all charges and the sealing of the criminal history. DUI Charge Amended and Refusal Dismissed – Client was charged with both DUI and refusal to submit to a breathalyzer. Attorney MacDonald worked with the town solicitor to ensure that the DUI was amended to a reckless driving for no further loss of license and the refusal was dismissed. After one year, the criminal history was cleaned. Driving to Endanger with Serious Bodily Injury case resolved with No Jail – Client was charged with driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury. The resulting accident caused significant injuries to a nearby pedestrian. Attorney MacDonald successfully convinced the sentencing judge not to impose jail for his client, despite the fact that a co-defendant received several years in prison. RI DUI – Drunk driving charge and breath test refusal charge dismissed for failure to prove operation of the vehicle. Rhode Island DUI – DUI case dismissed for failing to comply with discovery request. RI DUI – Drunk driving charges dismissed for break in the chain of observation of client. DUI – Drunk driving charge and breath test refusal charge dismissed based upon the pre-mature arrest of a client without probable cause.Drunk Driving and Breath Test Refusal – Client was charged with drunk driving and breath test refusal. Client was found not guilty after trial or charges reduced and/or dismissed with no loss of driver’s license every year since 1997. Client was charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury. Our DUI defense led to no jail sentence. Client was charged with drunk driving, death resulting. Our DUI defense led to no jail sentence. Client was charged with drunk driving, death resulting. Our DUI defense led to a sentence of Work Release instead of jail time. Client was released after only one year.Our law firm provides an aggressive DUI defense for the following DUI charges and alcohol-related offenses:
Contact our law firm today to speak with a DUI lawyer about any of the above charges.
The Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. has handled over 1,000 DUI cases and breath test refusal cases. Let a seasoned DUI lawyer, who is also a former prosecutor, help you from facing a driver’s license suspension and other severe penalties that could result from a DUI conviction.
The Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. guarantees that a DUI attorney will take the time necessary to completely explain the strengths and weaknesses of your drunk driving case from the moment we meet. We regularly provide updates and discuss all developments with you so you fully understand the DUI charge and the criminal defense process completely.
Below you’ll find important information about a DUI charge, DUI law, DUI conviction, and DUI defense. To learn more about drunk driving defense or our other alcohol-related case experience, contact the Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to speak with a DUI lawyer.
The Rhode Island DUI law states that you can be charged with a DUI if you’ve been driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher. It’s important to keep in mind that driving impaired under the influence of drugs or any other controlled substance can also result in a DUI. To learn more about how Rhode Island law defines a DUI, contact our law firm today.
Rhode Island breaks down its penalties for a DUI conviction according to the blood alcohol level (BAC) at the time of the arrest. In addition, it’s important to remember that a DUI penalty will be more severe if you’ve had previous DUI arrests in the past or if someone was seriously injured in an accident. Here are the penalties for a first offense DUI in Rhode Island:
BAC level between .08% – .10% at the time of the DUI arrest:
BAC level between .10% – .15% at the time of the DUI arrest:
BAC of .15% or more at the time of the DUI arrest:
Remember that there are consequences and punishments that can go further than the penalties mentioned above. For instance, you may be required to complete up to 60 hours of community service or attend an alcohol treatment or education program in addition to jail time and expensive fines. To lessen your risk of these penalties and obtain a proper DUI defense, contact the Law Office of John E. MacDonald today to speak with a DUI lawyer.
After a DUI arrest in Rhode Island, you’ll be required to show up at an arraignment hearing at one of the District Courts. At this arraignment hearing, you’ll appear before a judge and you’ll be officially charged with a DUI. Then, you’ll enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty”. The judge will either release you on bail or on personal recognizance, which simply means that you swear to a court appearance at a later date. It is highly recommended to only attend an arraignment hearing after you’ve spoken with a Rhode Island DUI attorney. DO NOT attend a hearing without speaking with a lawyer first and DO NOT simply plead guilty without being advised to do so.
After your arraignment hearing, you’ll be scheduled a pre-trial date, which is typically a few weeks after the DUI arrest. This is when your DUI lawyer will conduct research on your DUI case, discuss options with prosecutors, negotiate on your behalf, and attempt to minimize your penalties or have your case dismissed.
From this point, you’ll be facing a dismissal, a plea arrangement, or your case will go to trial. In order to obtain the best possible outcome, you need to speak with a DUI lawyer before any of the above-mentioned steps occur. To understand more about the criminal defense process with a DUI case, contact our law firm today.
Refusing to take a breath test in Rhode Island is considered an offense. You will likely face a license suspension if you refuse to take a breath test when pulled over by a police officer. Clients will often ask if it’s better or worse to refuse a breath test. The answer to this will depend on your circumstances. For instance, if you have not had anything to drink and you’re absolutely certain that you’re sober, taking a breath test and proving the results can be better than refusing a breath test which results in a license suspension. However, if you’ve had multiple DUI arrests within a short amount of time, proof of another breath test that exceeds the BAC limit can damage your record. If you’ve lost your driver’s license due to refusing a breath test or a field sobriety test, contact the law office of John E. MacDonald to learn more about your options.
Absolutely. It’s always important to remember that mistakes are made by police officers all the time. In addition, breathalyzer devices malfunction, and field sobriety tests can be administered incorrectly. In other words, there are multiple DUI defense options. However, your chances of beating a drunk driving charge are only increased if you work with a skilled criminal defense attorney that specializes in DUI cases. Choosing to represent yourself or simply pleading guilty is never recommended. To hear more about the successful results of our previous DUI cases, contact our law firm today.
A first-offense DUI will stay on your record for five years in Rhode Island.
Yes, after the five-year waiting period, it is possible to have your DUI conviction expunged. Having a DUI expunged from your record has many benefits. Having any misdemeanor on your record can prevent you from doing things like getting a job, renting an apartment, or applying for a loan. When you have a DUI conviction expunged from your record, it’s like it never happened. For example, if you’re in a job interview and a potential employer asks if you’ve ever been charged with a crime, you can legally respond “no”. The expungement process can be complex, so it’s important to work closely with an expungement lawyer when you’re eligible to expunge your DUI. If you’ve been charged with a DUI but your case was dismissed, remember that even dismissals can remain on your record and show up on background checks. To learn more about expungement requirements and eligibility, contact our law office today to speak with a DUI lawyer that specializes in expungement.
If this is your first DUI offense, you may be asking yourself why you need to hire a Rhode Island DUI lawyer. The answer is quite simple. If you want options, better outcomes, and an opportunity to minimize your chances of jail time, you need to hire a DUI attorney. An experienced DUI lawyer that’s spent decades defending DUI offenders can explain the legal procedures to you, assist you with court appearances, investigate your case, identify mistakes made by police officers, and negotiate on your behalf. As we often say, don’t leave your future to chance. Hire a skilled DUI lawyer that will provide a strong DUI defense and guide you through this challenging time.
At the Law Office of John E. MacDonald, a DUI lawyer will be available to you 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’ve been charged with a DUI or other alcohol-related offense, we encourage you to contact our law office immediately for a complimentary consultation. We listen, provide feedback, and offer a comprehensive evaluation of your case. We love helping our clients and we love to win. Contact us today to learn more about what a skilled DUI lawyer can do for you.
We are available to our clients twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. We frequently answer telephone calls and emails after hours, on weekends, and while on vacation. We love what we do and we love to win. We encourage you to consider a complimentary consultation, wherein you will notice first hand the professionalism, competence and dedication we have to winning alcohol-related driving offenses.
The Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer at The Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc are available 24 Hours to take care of your DUI case. Don’t leave your future to chance, contact Rhode Island DUI Lawyer John E. MacDonald.
Rhode Island DUI Attorney Office
Phone: 401.421.1440
For experienced Rhode Island DUI Lawyers call the Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. today at 401.421.1440 and schedule a free consultation today.
The Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc. proudly serves Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, Warwick and all of Rhode Island and Massachusetts
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter. Also, the Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.
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