Nashua, New Hampshire & DWI Laws – What You Need to Know

There is no doubt about it: Nashua, New Hampshire is a beautiful town. Its close proximity to the liveliness of Boston, stunning mountains, and the ever enjoyable seacoast, in addition to its quaint, quiet atmosphere, has led this small town to twice be voted the best place to live in America. The name itself, a Penacook word, means “beautiful stream with a pebbly bottom”. Despite its many attractions and accolades, Nashua does have its hidden dark side.

Nashua DWI Accidents and Fatalities

Learn How to Get the Best Legal Help After a DWI Arrest

I’ve been charged with a DWI. How do I find the best legal help available?

New Hampshire’s driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are stricter than ever before. Police officers have made DWI prevention one of their top priorities, and social organizations, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have brought these issues to the forefront of society’s attention, in addition to lobbying or even harsher penalties for those convicted of DWI related crimes. Even within the last 5 years, New Hampshire’s drunk driving laws have been revolutionized.

I’m In Medical School and Was Arrested For a DWI. What Happens Now?

A doctor or nurse is placed in a position of perceived responsibility, so if you have not yet received your medical or nursing license, then you are quite right to be concerned about how being arrested for a DWI will affect your future. In the state of New Hampshire, a first time DWI offense will not affect your ability to obtain your nursing or medical license; however, this does not mean that you should not fight your case in court.

Even though a single conviction will not destroy your chosen career, there is every possibility that any subsequent DWI offense will. There is another element you should consider. Most medical students graduate from school with a considerable amount of debt. Adding the monetary penalties and fines of a DWI to that debt total can be financially devastating.

I’ve Been Arrested For a DWI. What Do I Do Now?

HIRE A GOOD LAWYER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

In the State of New Hampshire, being arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is a serious offense. If you are convicted of these charges, the negative impact it has on your life can reverberate for years in the future, including your ability to find gainful employment. Due to the seriousness of DWI charges, many defendants choose to take their case to trial in the hope that the case will either be dismissed or they will be found not guilty.

I Was Arrested For a DWI, But a Court Date Hasn’t Been Set. How Long Do Police Officers Have to Charge Me With a DWI?

When a New Hampshire motorist is arrested for and charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated), it does not mean that they are automatically charged with the offense. The police officer who pulls over, detains, and arrests the motorist for a DWI must first write a formal report and forward it to the local district attorney’s office in the community where the arrest occurred. The report is then forwarded to the staff of the DA’s office who is responsible for writing it up and then filing formal charges.

The final say on whether or not a charge is filed lies with the deputy district attorney. In many instances, a deputy district attorney’s office is deluged with filing requests, which causes their office to become backlogged. For the arrestee, this means that it might be a few weeks or months before the charges against them become official. In the state of New Hampshire, your local district attorney’s office has up to one year from the date of your arrest to formally file charges. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations. For more serious offenses, the statute of limitations can be as long as three years.