DWI Attorney Manchester, NH

Charged with a DWI/DUI? We’ll Mount a Strong Defense for You!

If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), a skilled defense lawyer is critical to protect your rights and future. New Hampshire law takes drunk and impaired driving very seriously and imposes significant penalties for those convicted. From fines, court fees, and license suspensions to potential jail time, the severe consequences of a conviction demand the attention of experienced attorneys.

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we know how to successfully fight back against DWI charges. With former prosecutors on our team and over 40 years of experience, our criminal defense attorneys share a wealth of practical knowledge and insight. Not only will we prepare and defend your case, but we can also help you tackle any issues that may arise later. We are often able to get our clients’ charges reduced, if not dropped altogether.

DWI vs. DUI

In Manchester, driving while intoxicated is the same as driving under the influence (DUI). Operating under the influence (OUI), impaired driving, and drunk driving are a few other synonyms for DWI. They all have the same consequences and will be noted, officially, as DWI.

DWI charges can also extend beyond driving a car or truck while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Individuals can face DWI/DUI charges if they operate a range of “vehicles,” including boats, snowmobiles, recreational off-road vehicles, certain types of e-bikes, and more.

By whatever name you choose to call it, and regardless of how you came to be charged, DWIs carry serious penalties and far-reaching consequences. In addition to the court-imposed penalties we outline below, several collateral consequences follow an impaired driving conviction. Some examples include:

• Loss of professional licensing
• Suspension or revocation of commercial driver’s license
• Increased insurance premiums
• Costly SR-22 insurance (required by New Hampshire for three years from the date of eligibility for restoration)
• Difficulties when applying for loans, housing, or jobs
• Loss of gun or voting rights (for felony convictions)

Penalties for DWI in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has strengthened its DWI laws and the severity of its penalties for DWI offenders over the years. While the law outlines minimums and ranges for various court-imposed penalties, it also describes various aggravating factors that can increase penalties in an impaired driving case and give judges discretion to impose significant sentences, depending on the circumstances.

Ultimately, the penalties you’ll face after being charged with DWI will depend greatly on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding your arrest and your criminal and motor vehicle history. Fortunately, the penalties that you’ll receive can also be influenced by the quality of your legal representation, as well as your willingness and ability to participate in intervention programs.

Below are some of the typical penalty or DWIs in New Hampshire

• First DWI. A first-time DWI conviction for someone over the age of 21 is punishable by a fine that ranges from $500 to $1,200, 9 to 24 months of license suspension, mandatory completion of the Impaired Driver Care Management Program (IDCMP) prior to license reinstatement, mandatory maintenance of SR-22 proof of financial responsibility for three years after conviction. First-time DWI penalties can be elevated when there are aggravating factors (such as high BAC) or when drivers are under 21.
• Second DWI. Multiple DWI convictions increase the severity of penalties and introduce mandatory jail sentences. For a second DWI conviction that occurs more than two and less than ten years from a first DWI conviction, penalties include fines up to $2,000, a 3-year license suspension, and a minimum 17-day jail sentence, but where 12 days are suspended, leaving five days, stand committed, to serve at the House of Corrections. In cases involving a second DWI within two years of a first conviction, the minimum jail sentence is increased to 60 days at the House of Corrections, 30 days of which is suspended, leaving 30 days to serve in jail, followed by completion of the Impaired Driver Care Management Program.
• Third DWI. A third DWI within ten years is punishable by up to $2,000 in fines, an indefinite license suspension, which means that you may not seek restoration of your driving privilege for at least five years, a minimum jail sentence of 180 days (30 days of which must be served in a county jail), and completion of the Impaired Driver Care Management Program.

Aggravated DWI

As mentioned above, certain factors can result in elevated charges and penalties in DWI cases. When a person drives impaired or intoxicated and any one of the following factors are present, they can be charged with an aggravated DWI.

• Breath or blood BAC level of .16 or more
• Dangerous speeds over 30 mph above the speed limit
• Evading the police by taking certain actions (speeding away, extinguishing headlights, etc.)
• Carrying a passenger under the age of 16
• Causing a crash resulting in serious bodily injury

Aggravated DWIs increase the stakes in DWI cases – even for first-time offenders. When a DWI accident results in serious bodily injury, the State can elevate the charge to a felony offense for Aggravated DWI.

At Shaheen & Gordon, our Manchester DWI/DUI attorneys are no strangers to defending clients against criminal charges that can reshape the lives of our clients. We have the experience and resources to aggressively defend impaired driving cases, and the insight to represent our clients in both administrative license hearings and criminal court proceedings.

Is It Worth it to Fight DWI Charges?

The answer is nearly always yes. In addition to potentially helping you find viable strategies to seek a dismissal of charges, taking steps to contest the government’s allegations, can also support negotiations, which may lead to reduced charges and penalties.

At Shaheen & Gordon, we pour over our clients’ cases to spot errors, violations, and inconsistencies in the state’s case that we can use to leverage the best result for our clients. Even in cases where charges can’t be dropped, the work we do can help clients seek more favorable outcomes. Some examples include:

• Reduced charges (i.e. felonies to misdemeanors or misdemeanors to non-criminal violations)
• Deferred sentences
• Alternative sentencing options to keep clients out of jail
• Reduced license suspension terms

While the facts of a case have a great impact on the options a person may have available after being charged with a DWI, their willingness to take certain actions can also improve their ability to negotiate reduced penalties. This includes enrolling in and completing the Impaired Driver Care Management Program (IDCMP) or agreeing to have a breathalyzer installed in your car.

Our attorneys can help you evaluate available options and defense strategies based on your unique case – for both your criminal court proceedings and DMV license hearings.

Decades of Experience on Your Side.

Our Manchester DWI defense attorneys have fought for accused individuals across New Hampshire and Northern New England since 1981. Comprised of award-winning advocates with extensive experience litigating DWI cases, we know how to help clients navigate the system, protect their driving privileges, and seek the most favorable outcomes in court.