New Hampshire Man Face DWI Charges Following Motorcycle Crash

ACWORTH, N. H. _ A New Hampshire man faces charges of driving while intoxicated following a motorcycle crash.

The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that 24-year-old Cody Brown lost control of his 2004 Kawasaki, which he was driving at a high rate of speed along Cold Pond Road. He suffered from facial injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities charged him with DWI and, after he was released from the hospital, he was released on his own recognizance.

If you’re facing similar charges, it is in your best interest to contact a DWI lawyer in New Hampshire to discuss your options. Don’t try to go it alone. An attorney who is well-versed in New Hampshire’s complicated laws governing driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can help you get the best possible outcome as your drunk driving case heads before a judge.

Following a crash, a police officer may assume that you are intoxicated because of how you are acting, or based on eye-witness reports of the crash.

If you are incapacitated, they may order urine or blood samples to determine whether you have drugs or alcohol in your system. If you are conscious and not injured badly, you may be asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

In New Hampshire, drivers are required to take such tests under the state’s implied consent law. That means that when you are issued a driver’s license by the department of motor vehicles, you agree to certain conditions, including taking a Breathalyzer test.

But, you do have the right to refuse the test.

However, as any New Hampshire DWI attorney will tell you, there are consequences to refusing the test. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

State law establishes the penalties for refusing a Breathalyzer as follows: Your driver’s license will be suspended for 180 days the first time you refuse to take the test and up to two years the next time.

You’ll be notified by the department if your driver’s license is suspended, or if a suspension is pending.

Police and other law enforcement officials are always looking for drivers who appear to be behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Sometimes a traffic accident is the biggest clue, as in the case of Brown’s motorcycle accident. Other times, the officers have to rely on their own instincts regarding stopping someone for suspected driving while under the influence.

There are clues. Drivers who are intoxicated may be swerving in and out of traffic. Or they may run up on a curb. Sometimes they speed, or drive too slow on the interstate. Some drunk drivers blow through stop signs or traffic lights.

No matter the reason, once a driver has been stopped, several things happen. The officer will ask you to take the Breathalyzer, and other tests, called field sobriety or balance tests.

Keep in mind that video of these tests will likely be shown in court because may police cars are equipped with cameras that record everything.

After this, you may be taken to jail, where you could spend a night, or more, depending on the circumstances.

If you’ve never been in trouble before, a judge will probably release you on bail and you’ll be required to return to court for hearings and, perhaps, a trial.

A DWI arrest can bring embarrassment and will cost you time and money. Your arrest could be covered in the local media if the circumstances warrant coverage.

This can be a very confusing time for you so you’ll want to contact an attorney immediately. Your New Hampshire DWI attorney will be able to explain exactly what will happen as you case heads to court.

Drinking and driving is never wise. But if you’ve been caught, please consult with a DWI lawyer in New Hampshire.