Articles Posted in Operation and DUI

How to Get Out of an OUI in Maine: Webb Law Firm

Published on: March 1, 2024 | by Webb Law Firm

John Webb is widely regarded as the best OUI lawyer in Maine. He lives closer to the Saco, Maine office, and he covers a great number of intoxicated driving cases near the New Hampshire border. Attorney Webb also has 2 other criminal defense lawyers near me.
By: Portland Maine OUI Attorney Vincent LoConte, DUI defense lawyer with Webb Law Maine Law Firm, where free legal advice in Maine criminal cases occurs daily from our two law offices in Maine

Maine DUI arrests. Maine OUI laws for drunk driving or drugged driving are very tough criminal charges. Maine sees fewer OUI arrests in winter due to less traffic at night.

Who needs to know this information about a ME OUI? Anyone who operates a motor vehicle (boat, car, truck, motorcycle, jet ski, SUV, 18-wheeler) is subject to Maine OUI laws. Our Maine DUI attorneys take phone calls all night, and on weekends to help those facing DUI offenses.

What’s the Penalty for OUI in Maine for DUI 1st Offense?

Published on: February 23, 2024 | by Webb Law Firm

In this aticle, the abbreviations “D.U.I.” and O.U.I.” are used interchangeably. The reason for that is DUI is the most widely used acronym for the crime of drunk driving, but the Maine Legislature named our driving under the influence law “operating” under the influence, which is the OUI meaning. The DUI meaning is “driving under the influence.”

The OUI legal consequences can be increased by certain behavior or circumstances associated with this specific arrest, which can cause an aggravated OUI Maine. Far too many attorneys in Maine don’t know how to successfully fight a first time DUI offense in Maine.

In many of our Portland DUI arrests, lawyers lure a person to hire them by quoting a low fee, only to “fold the tent” and plead the client guilty to OUI without any meaningful “fight.” This is not how our legal team members approach driving while intoxicated defense, because the person could have done that without a lawyer!

Maine Statutes OUI: A Review of DUI in Maine Aggravated OUI

Published on: February 22, 2024 | by Webb Law Firm

By: Vincent LoConte, Criminal Defense Attorney With Webb Law Maine

Portland ME DUI attorney Vincent LoConte represents local citizens and people who are visiting The Pine Tree State. If you were arrested for operating under the influence you need a good lawyer who can idemtify inconsistencies in police procedures, imc;uding was the traffic stop legal.
Like all other states, many types of driver license suspension statutes exist under Maine Laws. The Pine Tree State sets apart higher punishment and extensions of suspensions or revocations, if the driver caught driving while suspended was doing this in violation of a conviction of an OUI in Maine.

Penalties under Maine Revised Statutes 29A-Section 2412-A are ramped up dramatically for a 2nd DUS (driving under suspension) or 3rd DUS. This article reviews most of the important Maine statutes OUI, for those facing prosecution in Maine.

Maine Search and Seizure: Illegal Traffic Stops

Published on: January 11, 2024 | by Webb Law Firm

Maine criminal lawyer John Webb explains what makes a traffic stop legal in Portland and Saco Maine.
By Webb Law Firm, With Law Offices Near Me in Portland Maine and Saco ME

No other nation besides 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 both state and federal officers. Many of the nation’s best criminal cases have been appeals from DUI lawyers near me made after an officer acted on a hunch, and did not have reasonable suspicion.

Maine LD 1491 DUI Drugs Law

Published on: May 2, 2023 | by Webb Law Firm

Maine DUI Drugs lawyer John Webb explains why some urine tests cannot properly determine a driver's current level of impairment.
I thought I had seen about everything in the Maine 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 ME OUI law says:

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles can take your driver’s license:

Can I Get a Maine DUI In a Parked Car?

Published on: April 23, 2023 | by Webb Law Firm

By: Southern Maine OUI Lawyer John Scott Webb, Martindale Hubbell Distinguished and Super Lawyer

Maine DUI lawyer John Webb of Webb Law Firm explains how cops can arrest you for OUI even if your car is parked and the engine is off. Can you drink in a parked car?

In Maine 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 or operate under the influence (OUI). 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). Can you drink in a parked car? I highly recommend you don’t do that, even if you are in your own driveway.

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

How Much Does a Maine OUI Cost?

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

Maine OUI Lawyer John Scott Webb

After getting an OUI/DUI in Maine, there are often lots of questions that may come into your mind. Most of them have answers that can be found as you search for legal services. One question that cannot be answered online is how much does a Maine OUI cost?

Specifically, how much are court fines, OUI school, attorney’s fees, and license reinstatement fees? How much is an ignition interlock device installed on my car? What if I lose my job? What if an OUI on my record keeps me from getting a new job?

Let’s break down these expenses one by one:

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?

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?