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 ...

Few of us lament the incredible advances in technology the past few years that have brought us the I-phone and other hand-held devices that operate as phone, camera, GPS, and offer the ability to text, make videos, send and receive email and to search for and receive information on nearly any top...

You can't predict where and when an accident will occur, it could be during work hours, or leisurely time; also when you're silently going for a walk. It could be due to the carelessness of one individual or malfunction of a machine, product, or engine that may cause serious damage. It could resu...

Summer is the ideal time for a teenager – no school, plenty of time to sleep in or hang with friends, freedom from the usual responsibilities. However, when teens get bored and restless, they can easily turn to alcohol as a way to pass the time with their peers.  Add a few special occasions such ...

The question we're attempting to answer here is why individuals insist upon driving themselves, although they easily can call a taxi or contact somebody to drop them home. Well, it's known that alcohol invokes that famous ‘Dutch Courage' where an individual receives a phony sense of preparedness ...

It may start out as innocent fun, tossing rocks at what looks to be a junk car, or spray painting an old wall. Maybe you didn't have plans on doing anything all, but you got caught up in the wrong crowd who pressured to you do a little damage to another's property. New Hampshire law is clear; th...

You hear about it everywhere these days – becoming economically friendly or “going green” has become a huge trend in industries all over the country. Hotels are seeking their LEED certification by using recycled and earth-friendly product, restaurants are offering all-natural or organic foods fro...

Unfortunately, it's a situation that happens often. You may be in a hostile work environment, or you might not even suspect it. When you are hit with harassment charges at your place of work, it can be a difficult, and delicate, situation. Sexual harassment laws are designed to crack down hard on...

What is Hindering Apprehension and Prosecution in New Hampshire Within the category of a criminal mischief charge is the crime of hindering apprehension and prosecution. This is commonly associated with harboring or concealing someone whom you know is wanted by law enforcement. If you have bee...

Identity Theft Arrest: What Now? In an increasingly technological world, identity theft has become a familiar crime. It has been a familiar crime in some areas of New Hampshire like Exeter, Portsmouth and Manchester. A New Hampshire identity theft offense is a matter of serious concern since i...

Burglary in New Hampshire Burglary can be a crime of theft. In New Hampshire it is generally charged as either a Class B or a Class A felony depending on the circumstances of the crime. Under New Hampshire criminal law, a burglary is charged as a Class B felony if a person enters an occupied ...

The New Hampshire House has rejected HB 451, a bill that had sparked wide debate and would have enabled residents to carry a concealed weapon without first obtaining a permit from the local police. Supporters of the bill wanted New Hampshire to join Vermont in its ‘constitutional carry' laws, whi...

Do you have a medical need for marijuana? Or have you been charged with a drug offense? Maybe you're just interested in how New Hampshire is dealing with the question of marijuana legalization. Last month, a number of state lawmakers filed bills that represent a wide range of marijuana legalizat...

Do you routinely talk on your cellphone while you're driving a motor vehicle? A recent New Hampshire Supreme Court decision suggests that you might want to think again before picking up your phone behind the wheel. Even though New Hampshire has no bans for talking on a cell phone while driving, a...