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Alfred Maine OUI Defense Attorneys

OUI laws in Alfred, Maine are severe and you can expect no help from law enforcement if you are stopped on suspicion of drunk or impaired driving.

Alfred Maine OUI Defense Lawyers
Facing Operating Under the Influence (OUI) charges in Alfred, Maine demands a robust defense, as the consequences are severe. Law enforcement is unforgiving, and the distinction between a lasting criminal record and potential jail time hinges on the strength of your defense.
 
At The Maine Criminal Defense Group, our steadfast OUI defense lawyers in Alfred bring tenacity and a deep understanding of Maine’s OUI laws. We navigate the complexities of the Alfred court system, offering a formidable defense to mitigate the serious repercussions of an OUI conviction.

Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.

Table of Contents

Common Concerns About OUI Charges In Alfred, Maine

OUI Penatlies in Alfred, Maine

Under Maine OUI laws, you are not allowed to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant. Most drivers know this and many also understand that the legal limit is .08 percent Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).

In Maine, you can be arrested and charged with an OUI even if you are within the legal limit. If a law enforcement officer suspects you of operating a vehicle in an impaired way, you will be arrested and asked to submit to certain tests.

Review the potential penalties for operating under the influence charges in Maine.

No. of Offense (Last 10 Years) License Suspension Jail Time Minimum Fine
1st Offense 150 Days 0 – 96 Hours $500
2nd Offense 3 Years 7 Days $700
3rd Offense 6 Years 30 Days $1,100
4th Offense 8 Years 6 Months $2,100

First OUI Penalties

A “first offense” means that you do not have any prior OUI convictions in any state within the preceding 10 years.

Maine imposes the following set of mandatory minimum criminal penalties for a first offense OUI conviction:

  • $500 fine
  • 150-day driver’s license suspension
  • Misdemeanor on your permanent record

Alfred judges frequently exceed these minimum penalties and hand down harsher punishments. It’s important to bear in mind that even for a first conviction, Maine OUI laws allow for a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail.

Penalties for second and subsequent OUI offenses carry harsher minimum and maximum penalties.

Second OUI Penalties

For a second OUI offense in Maine, it’s considered a Class D crime with potential penalties. The maximum jail term is 364 days, and fines can reach up to $2,000. Mandatory minimum penalties include:

  1. Seven days of mandatory minimum jail time.
  2. A mandatory minimum fine of $700.
  3. A three-year license suspension and loss of the right to register a motor vehicle.

If you refused a chemical test, the penalties become more severe:

  1. A mandatory minimum jail sentence of twelve days.
  2. A mandatory minimum fine of $900.

To learn more about the penalties for subsequent OUI charges in Maine, please review our comprehensive guide or contact us directly.

Underage OUI Penalties

For drivers under the age of 21 (the legal drinking limit in Maine), Zero Tolerance laws apply for OUI.

Your license will be suspended by the BMV for any amount of alcohol and, for a first-time OUI, you will face the following criminal penalties:

  • 150-day suspension
  • Driver Alcohol Education (DEEP Program)
  • Reinstatement fees

Read More → Underage OUI Charges in Maine

Implied Consent Penalties in Alfred, Maine

You are breaking the law if you refuse a breath, blood or urine test if you are suspected of OUI in Falmouth and requested to submit a chemical sample.

This is known as the “implied consent” law, meaning that drivers in Maine must submit to a BAC test or breathalyzer when requested by a qualified law enforcement officer. Refusal will lead to an automatic suspension of your driving privileges for 275 days.

For drivers under the age of 21, a refusal means an automatic suspension of driving privileges for 18 months.

Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.

Court Location in Alfred, Maine

If you’re arrested for operating under the influence (OUI) in Alfred, your case will be heard at the Alfred Superior Courthouse.

This courthouse is located at 45 Kennebunk Road, in Alfred, Maine, in a two-story, wide brick building. The front has four white pillars supporting a pointed pediment at the center of the building. At the top, there’s a white bell tower and a weather vane.

This classical-looking entryway, however, is not how you’ll be getting inside. Instead, you’ll have to enter through the backdoor, next to the court’s parking lot at the intersection of Court Street and Depot Street. You can find driving directions on Google Maps. They are also available on the court’s website.

Parking

The Alfred Superior Courthouse has a parking lot behind it, at the intersection of Court Street and Depot Street, as well as two other lots, across Court Street from the building. These parking lots provide plenty of parking, so you’ll almost always find a spot for your car.

Courtroom

Like many of the other courts in Maine, the Alfred Superior Courthouse is an old building. Even though York County has the second busiest docket, behind only Portland, there are only two courtrooms in the Alfred Superior Courthouse, one on each of the two floors. As a result, the building is often congested, as people frequently have to wait outside the first floor courtroom for their case to be heard. Most of the cases are heard in the courtroom on the second floor. Likewise, there are also only two restrooms in the building – one for men, one for women. These facilities have to accommodate all of the attorneys, clients, and courthouse staff throughout the day. Be prepared to have to wait outside these, as well.

OUI Court Process in Alfred

When you arrive at the Alfred Superior Courthouse, you’ll enter through the rear entrance, located at the parking lot behind the building. When you enter, you’ll have to pass through court security screening in order to go any further.

Most of the cases are heard in the large courtroom on the second floor. You can get there by using the elevator, which is located directly across from the men’s bathroom. Once on the second floor, the courtroom is to the immediate right of the elevator.

With such a busy docket to go through, it can take a great deal of time to resolve your case in the Alfred Superior Courthouse. Unfortunately, you should expect to be in court for the better part of the day.

If you have a dispositional conference scheduled, don’t expect your case to be called unless your attorney has a resolution to present to the court. On dispositional conference days, the court will normally handle the people who do not have legal representation. Only after this is done will they see if anyone else’s case is ready to proceed. If no one else is ready to proceed, the court will call a recess until there are a sufficient number of cases that can be presented to the court for resolution.

On docket call days, typically your last court appearance before a jury trial, prisoner cases are given top priority, so they’re called first. Once this is done, the court goes through the docket list, in alphabetical order. These lists are often incredibly long – the spelling of your last name will determine where you are on the list, and it can take two or more hours to finish the list. You may not be called until mid-morning or later. Nevertheless, you’re still expected to be present at the time of your scheduled court appearance. If you’re not there, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Counting on the court’s delay is a big risk. Just bring something to read, and be prepared to wait it out until your case is called.

Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.

OUI Prosecutors in Alfred

The District Attorney for Androscoggin County is Andrew Robinson. Mr. Robinson is a fair-minded District Attorney, who is willing to negotiate for a fair outcome in most cases. Unlike some other Maine District Attorney offices, Mr. Robinson’s does not employ a “no negotiation” policy for OUIs.

What Is the Court Process for an OUI in Alfred, Maine?

In Alfred, Maine, OUI is processed just like any other criminal case in Cumberland County — through the Unified Criminal Docket (UCD). This means that we will not need to transfer your case to the superior court for a jury on a misdemeanor OUI.

While this is generally good news for defendants, it does mean that the case may not be heard locally but at some distance from where the alleged offense occurred.

An OUI case will go through the following legal steps:

  1. Arraignment:
    The OUI defendant is scheduled to appear before a judge in either Portland Unified Court, Bridgton District Court, or West Bath District Court to hear the charges and enter a plea.
  2. Dispositional conference:
    About six weeks after arraignment, the defense, prosecution and sometimes the judge meet to discuss whether a negotiated resolution is possible.
  3. Motion hearing:
    The defense in OUI cases often files motions to suppress evidence or for additional discovery. This must happen no later than the day after the dispositional conference and will be heard around two weeks after the dispositional conference.
  4. Jury Selection:
    if the OUI case proceeds to trial, jury selection in Portland generally happens on a Monday a few weeks after the motion hearing date.
  5. Trial:
    the trial is usually scheduled for around two weeks after jury selection. Before then, more motions may be filed to decide on the evidence that the jury will see. The OUI trial process normally takes around one or two days in Portland.

Contact Our OUI Defense Lawyers in Alfred, Mine

If you’re facing OUI charges in Alfred, or elsewhere in York County, contact experienced OUI defense attorney William T. Bly. He has handled countless cases in the Alfred Superior Courthouse and elsewhere in Maine, and knows the ins and outs of all of them.

His knowledge of local court rules can mean the difference between an acquittal, and a conviction. Contact The Maine Criminal Defense Group at (207) 571-8146 or submit a form submission directly online.

Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.

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