Saturday, July 25, 2009

DUI Consequences For New Mexico

Being arrested for a DWI in the state of New Mexico is not only an embarrassing situation to find yourself in, but it is also one that carries heavy penalties. Even if you are facing your first DWI offense, you will pay significantly for your crime. Your best line of defense is hiring a qualified drunk driving attorney to help you defend your case and protect your right to drive.




For a first New Mexico DWI offense, you will spend up to 90 days in jail. The fines for this offense can be as high as $500. On top of that, you will pay around $200 in court costs. You will also be asked to attend a victim impact panel, serve probation (sometimes in place of jail time), and attend DWI school. Optional alcohol screening, counseling, and community service are possible. The fees for all of these potential penalties range close to $150.




After your DWI arrest, you need to request a hearing with the MVD to try to fight to keep your license. If you do not request the hearing, your license will be revoked on the 20th day after your arrest, and you will not have it for 90 days. Before you can get it back, you must show proof of attending DWI school and the alcohol screening. You may be able to get a temporary license 30 days after the revocation begins.




These penalties are strict, because New Mexico takes drunk driving seriously. The best way to avoid them is to designate a driver. If you are caught driving under the influence, hire a lawyer to help you defend yourself.


Learn more about New Mexico DUI Laws as well as Hawaii DUI Laws and DUI Laws for all 50 states at DUIConsequences.com

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dui attorny: dui lawyer

Article Source: www.articlesnatch.com

Field Sobriety Tests and Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana

No matter what the state, it is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. When pulled over, the driver is usually ordered out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. An officer typically puts the driver through a series of balance, coordination, and mental acuity tests. While each jurisdiction uses its own field sobriety tests, there are some common tests used by practically all police agencies.





Balance tests





The driver is usually asked to stand on one foot and lean back with their eyes closed. Another balance favorite is asking the driver to walk an "imaginary line," usually in darkness of night. Innocent factors effecting balance tests include the actual location and conditions surrounding the test (on the roadside with cars speeding by), the lighting (dark, poorly lighted), the actual surface and pitch of the test area (loose gravel or dirt, uneven or slanted), the weather (cold, rainy, windy, snowy), and the drivers shoes (boots, heels, stiff dress shoes) all play a role in determining the accuracy of the testing. Interestingly, the loss of balance is not usually associated with being under the influence of marijuana. Notwithstanding, law enforcement continues to use these forms of tests to determine sobriety and safe driving.





Coordination tests





The driver, using one hand, is usually asked to touch each finger with the thumb, going from the index finger to the pinky finger and then back down again. This apparently demonstrates dexterity and the ability to follow instructions. Other popular coordination tests include asking the driver to count backwards while touching the nose with the tip of the index finger and while his eyes are shut closed. Not only are these tests difficult to do when completely sober, the test is affected by the actual test conditions and the officer's own ability to give clear and concise directions. All too often the officer does a poor job of explaining exactly what is required.





Mental tests





Reciting the alphabet, counting backwards from a random number ("count backwards from 73 to 57" or "count backwards from 100 by 7s") is all part of testing a driver's mental acuity and capacity to focus on a task. Most experienced criminal defense attorneys can point out that these tests are often misleading since they are usually administered late at night, while the subject is nervous, tired and under interrogation. Further, the officer's opinion of poor performance on these field sobriety tests does not necessarily indicate the driver was so impaired he could not operate a vehicle safely.





Unlike the drunk driver, the driver under the influence of marijuana does not typically display the same types of deficits in balance, coordination and mental acuity that are so often produced by alcohol intoxication.





Just because driving under the influence of marijuana is more difficult to prove with any degree of certainty, one should not underestimate the penalties if one actually gets convicted of the offence. The penalties are serious and a conviction for driving under the influence of marijuana can result in fines, jail time and loss of driving privileges.


www.gottrouble.com is the ultimate resource for anything that might you in trouble, including medicinal marijuana. Knowledge is power, so let us show you how to avoid clashing with law enforcement.

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dui attorny: dui attorny

Article Source: www.articlesnatch.com