If you’ve been charged with OUI in Worcester County, you’ll need a local OUI lawyer with demonstrated experience delivering results in Worcester County Court. Attorney Joseph J. Higgins is a Worcester lawyer specializing in Massachusetts DUI / OUI law and practices exclusively in Massachusetts.
How Do Worcester County OUI Cases Begin?
It’s true that in Worcester—and indeed, across Massachusetts—the elevated publicity around drunk driving arrests can lead to increased scrutiny by police officers. If a law enforcement officer smells alcohol, or there is an admission to alcohol consumption, you will often be arrested for OUI. There are also many cases in which the accused have been subjected to unfair field sobriety tests and not given the benefit of the doubt by police officers.
Defense against OUI charges will generally begin with a thorough investigation of police reports, evidence, visual footage of the arrest, and review of the area in which the traffic stop took place. It’s common for Worcester County to videotape bookings—which offers a powerful opportunity for the defense in some cases. It’s not unusual for video footage to reveal the accused seemingly in command of good balance, polite behavior, and clear responses to all of the officer’s questions. This sort of evidence can undermine or contradict the report filed by law enforcement.
Even if you failed a breathalyzer test, this alone does not guarantee that you will be found guilty of OUI in Worcester County Court. It can be frightening and upsetting to be arrested for OUI, but there is no surefire way to avoid an arrest—the decision to arrest is based solely on the discretion of the police officer.
Once you get to court, however, the attorney you’ve chosen can make a substantial difference.
Why Do I Need a Worcester Lawyer?
An OUI attorney with a track record of success in Worcester County Court puts you in the best possible position to achieve a finding of “not guilty.” A lawyer that practices regularly in Worcester County will be more familiar with the prosecutors, judges, police officers, etc.
The judges in the local court system have a broad discretion to determine the precise sentences and conditions of probation in the cases over which they preside. Only a Worcester lawyer with experience and familiarity with these judges can advise you on the best ways to approach the case.
Your ability to achieve a dismissal, finding of not guilty, or the minimum penalties permissible under a Continuance Without a Finding and 24D alternative disposition (reserved for first offenders) will hang in the balance—there’s no sense in selecting legal counsel that has no proof of prior success in Worcester courts.
For example, a Worcester lawyer will know that you should arrive in court at 8:30 AM. Trials in Worcester District Court start promptly at 8:30, unlike many other courts, which start at 9:00 AM (or later). Don’t take a risk by selecting an attorney without years of experience in the local court system. Call Attorney Joseph J. Higgins today to book a consultation with a Worcester county attorney and get started on constructing a strong defense.
