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Honolulu DUI And Traffic Law Blog

After a DUI: Things you may not be thinking about

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.

Were you pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol? Are you beginning to wonder how this will impact your life? Do you have concerns that a conviction could change your life forever?

It goes without saying that a DUI conviction can have a far-reaching impact on your life. However, many people fail to focus on all the important details. Instead, they only consider the here and now, such as the fine they will have to pay or the license suspension that will alter their day to day living.

Driving without a valid license: Is it a big deal?

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Monday, April 9, 2018.

A valid driver's license is required if you want to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Hawaii. There is no way around this, so you need to keep this point in mind at all times.

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the following circumstances:

  • You have never received a driver's license from the department of motor vehicles
  • Your license has been permanently revoked
  • Your license is under suspension

Less obvious ways to challenge a DUI in Hawaii

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Monday, March 12, 2018.

When you are pulled over and charged with a DUI, it is common to feel as though you have been wronged in some way. Perhaps you were convinced that you were not over the legal limit, or that you had reason to believe that the breathalyzer test was inaccurate.

Whatever the reason for your doubt, it is important that you consider the possible legal challenges that you can make in regard to your DUI in Hawaii.

Is it a good idea to fight a traffic ticket?

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

There is never a good time to find yourself pulled over on the side of the road by a police officer. Not only can this slow down your entire day, but it can bring a variety of challenges into your life.

While you can do your best to talk the officer out of issuing a traffic ticket, there is no guarantee that it’ll work.

Remember your rights during a traffic stop

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Friday, January 12, 2018.

When an officer pulls you over, you are certainly in danger of receiving a ticket, or possibly even getting arrested, depending on the reasons the officer performs the stop, your behavior during the stop, and the evidence of criminal activity that the officer finds. However, it is important to remember that the officer performing the stop is not above the law and should not violate your rights in the course of your interaction.

Even in circumstances where the evidence against you is very strong, the officer must respect your rights, and violations of those rights may lead a court to throw out any charges resulting from the stop.

Are there ways to challenge breathalyzer results?

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.

During a suspected DUI stop, an officer may choose to administer a breathalyzer test. If a driver fails this test, then he or she is usually arrested and charged. For many drivers, the breathalyzer results themselves may seem like "bulletproof" evidence of their guilt, but this is not always the case.

While it is not easy to challenge breathalyzer results, it is possible, depending on the circumstances of the traffic stop. If you received DUI charges after failing a breathalyzer test, it is worth your time to consult with an experienced DUI defense attorney who understands the nuances of Hawaii DUI laws and defending suspects against these charges.

Do you have the right to refuse chemical testing in a DUI stop?

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Monday, December 11, 2017.

Traffic and criminal laws vary substantially from state to state. However, all 50 states and the District of Columbia agree that driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol shouldn't be legal. For adults ages 21 or older in Hawaii, having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher can result in driving under the influence (DUI) charges. For those with commercial licenses, that cutoff lowers to 0.04 percent, with an arrest or conviction also affecting their career and licensing.

Generally speaking, law enforcement officers first begin to suspect DUI offenses when witnessing certain behavior on the road. Swerving, erratic driving and crossing the center line can all be sufficient reason to pull someone over. From there, a roadside field sobriety test may lead the officer to suspect impairment. Using this suspicion as probable cause, the officer will then request a chemical test. Sometimes drivers choose to refuse that request.

DUI checkpoints in Hawaii

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.

Law enforcement has many different tactics that they can use to try to spot drunk drivers in Honolulu. The city increases the officers that it has on patrol during noteworthy events, hoping that they can catch drivers before they cause a serious accident.

Sobriety checkpoints are another common method that police use to curtail drunk driving. In Hawaii, it is not uncommon for motorists to encounter one of these checkpoints in a high-traffic area. Some drivers might not know what to do if they find themselves being stopped at a checkpoint, and may end up making their situation much worse. This post discusses what happens during a stop at a checkpoint, and what motorists should do in order to protect their rights.

The basics of ignition interlocks

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.

In Hawaii, motorists convicted of drunk driving have the option of having an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles. These devices will allow the motorist to be able to operate their vehicles during the period that their licenses are suspended, provided the meet certain requirements. In this post, we discuss how these devices work, as well as the other important details that you need to know regarding interlocks should you be facing DUI charges.

3 things to know about DUI in Hawaii

On behalf of The Law Office of R. Patrick McPherson, ALL posted in blog on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.

Many Hawaii motorists know that the state takes an extremely aggressive stance against impaired driving. The city of Honolulu has a large number of law enforcement officers looking for drunk drivers every single day.

Whether you are visiting the city or live somewhere on Oahu, you need to be aware of the potentially serious consequences that you may experience if you are convicted of a DUI offense. In this post, we wanted to discuss three things that you might not be aware of when it comes to a DUI stop and the eventual case that follows afterward.

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