Republican state representatives from New Hampshire have introduced a bill designed to reduce the charge of simple assault. Under the conditions of the bill, the charge would drop from a misdemeanor crime down to a mere violation-level offense in cases where physical contact “ doesn't result in a...

A recent proposal will allow first-time DWI offenders in New Hampshire to be eligible for a “Cinderella,” or “work permit” driver's license. New Hampshire is in a small minority of U.S. states that doesn't grant limited driving privileges to people who have been convicted for driving while intox...

The first few months of a new year is often the time when there is the most legislative activity, with new bills proposed, debated, and sometimes passed into law by federal and state elected officials. This year is no exception, and many high-profile bills are currently being evaluated which may ...

A DWI conviction in New Hampshire can result in serious consequences, including long-term license losses, fines, and jail time under certain conditions. Unfortunately, once the fines have been paid and the jail time has been served, DWI convictions can also have a certain stigma attached. Many bu...

As of January 1, 2013, driving under the influence of prescription drugs, over the counter drugs or other chemical substances could lead to a DUI in NH. Under the previous law, even when people were found to be grossly impaired by medications, like some muscle relaxers, they could not be charged ...

Even if you are not a football fan you probably have plans on Sunday to watch the biggest sporting event of the year–The Super Bowl. This year it is a bi-coastal affair, with the Baltimore Ravens facing the San Francisco 49ers. Virtually every year the Super Bowl is the single most watched televi...

The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that the New Hampshire sex offender reporting statute covers a new MySpace account. New Hampshire law requires NH sex offenders to notify law enforcement when they create new “online identifiers.” Proponents of the law believe that it will remove an avenue f...

A NH police sting operation, conducted by the Manchester Police Department during the holiday shopping season was mostly unsuccessful. The police left a cash-filled purse and a bag with a DVD player in an unattended cart outside stores in Manchester, in order to see if dishonest shoppers would ta...

It used to be traditional for workers, especially those in manufacturing jobs, to leave work and head directly for the bar, especially on payday. For many, it was a way to unwind with co-workers after a difficult day, before heading home to families and dinner. The economic downturn, and its acc...

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a pharmaceutical company's appeal regarding its liability to those alleging they were harmed by generic drugs. The Supreme Court will be examining a $21 million judgment won by a New Hampshire woman in a civil suit who alleged that she sustained ...

The New Hampshire State Police recently announced the driving under the influence statistics for the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The enforcement period began Wednesday November 21 and ended on Sunday November 25. New Hampshire state troopers maintained a highly visible presence in an effo...

New Hampshire's only death-row inmate, Michael Addison, was the subject of an all day hearing in front of the New Hampshire Supreme Court on November 14, 2012. Addison was sentenced to death after his New Hampshire criminal trial for shooting and killing 35 year-old Manchester Police Officer Mich...

Police departments have recently begun a new initiative to prevent crime: public shaming. Those convicted of DUIs, soliciting prostitutes and theft are the most frequently targeted for public shaming. Police hope that the public shaming technique will be effective in preventing crime, particul...

In a January 2012 NH Supreme Court case, the Court reviewed the constitutionality of a regulation requiring a permit in a state park for any unusual activities. While the facts of the case seem somewhat absurd, the underlying legal principles are very important. NH Free Speech Case In September...

Currently the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is pushing for Ignition Interlock Devices for all DUI offenders, including first time offenders. According to the NHTSA, most drivers responsible for fatal car accidents in the U.S. test for alcohol consumption that is twice the le...

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Missouri v. McNeely to examine the issue of whether a police officer may obtain a blood sample without a DWI warrant and without consent from the accused. Of course, drivers are well within their rights to refuse blood, breath or urin...

As Thanksgiving approaches, so does the holiday season. As everyone knows, the holiday season brings colder weather, snow, Santa Claus, shopping and, of course, holiday parties. While not all holiday parties will include alcohol consumption, people do like to create and drink special holiday cock...

During the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, while most people are enjoying time spent with family, eating delicious dinners and exchanging gifts, the time is also prime season for theft in New Hampshire. The holiday season provides more opportunities for criminals to take adv...

Every year, thousands and thousands of people in New Hampshire drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a car. However, the reality is that only a small percentage of those driving under the influence are actually caught—with a breathalyzer, or some other testing method, showing they have a...

Halloween is a dangerous time for accidents, due to the large number of children walking on the streets in dark costumes. The time period around Halloween in New Hampshire, with so many Halloween parties and other events, also has one of the highest incidents of arrests for drunk driving. In orde...

Many New Hampshire citizens have had the unfortunate experience of being pulled over by a police officer. Depending on the situation you may just be slightly nervous, or you may be shaking so hard you would not be able to hold your license and registration, even if you could find it. Most people ...

In a typical DUI or DWI stop, the police officer simply has to give the driver a breathalyzer test to determine whether or not they are over the legal limit—if they are a NH DWI conviction might follow. Matters are far more complication when it comes to controlled substances beyond alcohol. But ...

A prosecutor with the Rockingham County District Attorney's Office resigned after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). William Pate, an assistant county attorney who was hired in October 2004 and prosecuted cases on the Seacoast, was on a two week vacation. He was pulled over afte...

Possessing or distributing child pornography is a serious offense that can be charged as either a state or federal crime. Child pornography networks, or groups of individuals who have banded together to distribute child pornography in the form of photographs, videos or computer-generated images ...

The criminal justice system is designed to protect the rights of all those accused of crimes—no matter what the charges. One of those crucial rights is the ability to examine the evidence against you and offer a defense to challenge that evidence. In drunk driving cases this usually means that a ...