When our client’s car became stuck on a parking curb during a dark, rainy night, what started as a simple wrong turn quickly escalated into serious drunk driving charges. After a bystander called police, our client faced accusations of OUI (Operating Under the Influence) and driving without a license in Woburn District Court OUI.
The Prosecution’s Perspective: An Open-and-Shut OUI Case?
The prosecution’s case seemed straightforward—our client admitted coming from a brewery after a company Christmas party, and officers detected alcohol on their breath. The police conducted field sobriety tests and gathered evidence for what they believed was an open-and-shut DUI case. But circumstances aren’t always what they appear.
The Defense Strategy: Uncovering the Real Story
At trial in Woburn District Court, we demonstrated the real story: a hardworking individual leaving a company event after just one drink, navigating a poorly lit parking lot in terrible weather conditions. The black asphalt curb was virtually invisible in those conditions. This wasn’t impaired driving or drunk driving—it was an unfortunate accident that could happen to any responsible driver.
Challenging the Evidence: Breathalyzer and Field Sobriety Tests
We systematically dismantled the prosecution’s OUI case. One drink at a company party doesn’t equal intoxication or meet the legal BAC limit. The smell of alcohol doesn’t prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt. Most importantly, our client never lost the ability to operate their vehicle safely—the mishap resulted from environmental factors completely beyond their control, not from alcohol impairment.
The Verdict: Not Guilty on All Charges
The jury agreed. After careful consideration of the breathalyzer issues, field sobriety test concerns, and all evidence, they returned not guilty verdicts on both the OUI charge and unlicensed operation charge.
Why This Case Matters for Massachusetts OUI Defense
This case reinforces a fundamental principle: being arrested for OUI, DUI, or DWI doesn’t mean being guilty. When facing drunk driving charges in Massachusetts courts, the details matter, and having an experienced OUI defense attorney can make all the difference between a criminal conviction and walking free.
Protecting Your Rights: The Importance of an Experienced DUI Attorney
If you’re facing OUI charges, DUI accusations, or motor vehicle offenses in Woburn District Court or anywhere in Massachusetts, contact the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson for a strategy consultation about your drunk driving defense.
Understanding Your Rights During Police Encounters
If you ever find yourself stopped by police, remember that you have constitutional rights, even if you’re ultimately charged with firearms offenses or other serious crimes. You can politely decline to consent to searches by saying, “I do not consent to a search.”
If officers proceed with a search anyway, don’t physically resist. Instead, clearly state your lack of consent and let an experienced attorney challenge the search later in court, just as we did in Chelsea District Court.
