How Military Personnel Can Be Affected by An NH DWI

For a New Hampshire civilian, DWI charges can be severe. If convicted of even a first time offense, the penalties you face include expensive monetary fines, probation, loss of your driver’s license, and potential jail time. If you are an active duty member of the Air Force, Navy, or Army who receives a DWI, the consequences you face become even more serious.

Officials within the United States military are actively cracking down on over-imbibing troops – both abroad and at home. Service members and addiction specialists state that driving while intoxicated and binge drinking remains as rampant as ever within the military. Unfortunately, the decision to drink too much is often accompanied by the decision to get behind the wheel of a car in an intoxicated state.

How Employers Can Use Your NH DWI Arrest and Conviction Record

New Hampshire’s current state laws bar potential employers from inquiring about annulled crimes, but otherwise, the use of criminal records is not limited.

Currently, there are an estimated 65 million adult Americans who have a criminal record, with DWI convictions being among the common types of charges. If you can count yourself among one of these number, then you could face an uphill battle in your search for gainful employment. Recent research has shown that the majority of employers – according to one survey, a whopping 92%- conduct criminal background checks when hiring for a new position. If a potential employer discovers that you have a DWI conviction or arrest on your record, it could make it significantly harder to find gainful employment in today’s tight job market.

Could the Future of New Hampshire DWIs Include 24/7 Sobriety Monitoring?

Lawmakers are always searching for new methods of strengthening New Hampshire’s DWI laws in an effort to continue discouraging drunk and drugged motorists from getting behind the wheel of an automobile. In November of 2013, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration) introduced a feasibility study that examined whether or not 24/7 sobriety monitoring programs should be required for repeat DWI offenders. The study stated that motorists with prior DUI and DWI convictions carried a significantly higher risk of future DWI arrest, in addition to involvement in both non-alcohol and alcohol related collisions.

A growing number of advocates believe that the only method for stopping repeat offenders is to ensure that they are abstaining completely from the use of alcohol. The NHTSA’s report identified six different methods for continual sobriety monitoring that are currently utilized throughout the United States. These methods are listed as follows:

New Hampshire, DWI Laws, & Speeding

Driving or operating a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol is considered a serious crime in our state. Without a doubt, driving while intoxicated is dangerous. In a 2011 report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was discovered that 30% of all fatal traffic accidents nationwide involved alcohol in some form or fashion. Alcohol and drugs cause specific side effects that impair a motorist’s judgment, delay their reaction times, and affect their overall driving abilities. In a concentrated effort to discourage motorists from getting behind the wheel of their automobile after drinking, all 50 states have passed strict DWI laws, and New Hampshire’s DWI laws are among the harshest in the country.

In New Hampshire and other states, DWI charges become more severe when the motorist demonstrates additional factors which cause their offense to become even more reckless. The majority of these factors will constitute an aggravated DWI criminal charge. Several common factors that will frequently lead to an aggravated DWI charge include the following:

Montana Vs. Zimmerman: The Right to a Speedy DWI Trial

Our New Hampshire DWI defense lawyers understand that multiple, excessive delays on the part of the prosecution in a DWI case can cause our clients to experience increased uncertainty and anxiety. When facing criminal charges, it can become difficult for a client to maintain their current job or to find a new one. Of course, some delays cannot be avoided, but an unreasonable number of delays caused by a prosecutor could potentially constitute a violation of your legal right to a speedy trial.

A case recently arose out of Montana that perfectly demonstrates this concept. In the case of Montana v. Zimmerman, two police officers observed a pickup truck speeding down a local roadway and decided to initiate a traffic stop. After making initial physical contact with the motorist, one of the officers developed suspicions that the driver was intoxicated and consequently conducted a DWI investigation.