Is a Cheap Bottom Tier Lawyer Just as Good?

If you were just arrested for DWI you just had a bad night. You were arrested, handcuffed and humiliated. A few days later you received some mail you didn't want. It was junk mail from some hack lawyers who say they will "handle" your DWI case for cheap. Your first reaction was probably revulsion. Your first impression of these lawyers was probably, "these clowns must be desperate for business; these junk-mail lawyers must suck". Trust your gut.

Imagine you got a flyer in the mail from an airline. It said "Below Average/Dirt Cheap Air: No One Else Will Fly With Us Cause We're Not Good, But We Are Cheaper than Real Airlines". The flier goes on to say "our pilots haven't flown many planes so they need passengers to practice on". Would you buy the cheap ticket?

If your license, your criminal record, your freedom and your good name matter to you, research carefully every lawyer you speak with. Speak to people you know in law enforcement, lawyers, court officers and people who have been through the difficult process of a New Hampshire DWI case themselves. Ask who they would hire, or recommend to a family member or loved one. None of the names that come up send out junk mail saying they will "handle" a case cheap. "Handle" to the junk mail lawyers, usually equates to helping you get convicted. If you want high quality representation, seek out the best, not the cheapest.


If you have been arrested for DWI, DUI, OUI or BWI in New Hampshire, call for your free initial consultation and case evaluation for your DWI, DUI, OUI or boating while intoxicated case:


Mark Stevens

5 Manor Parkway

Salem, NH 03079

1-603-893-0074


New Hampshire DUI/DWI laws. If you've been arrested or indicted for aggravated DWI, DWI, DUI, boating while intoxicated ("BWI"), or other crimes in New Hampshire, please call the Law Offices of Mark Stevens today at 1-603-893-0074 for a free consultation today! We look forward to speaking to you!


Drivers considering whether to take a breath test after a first offense New Hampshire DWI arrest should carefully consider the fact that they may go to jail if they blow. A copy of New Hampshire's DWI first offense and Aggravated DWI first offense penalties are listed below.

New Hampshire RSA 265-A:18 Penalties for Intoxication or Under Influence of Drugs Offenses.

I. Except as otherwise provided in this section:

(a) Any person who is convicted of any offense under RSA 265-A:2, I shall be:

(1) Guilty of a class B misdemeanor;
(2) Fined not less than $500;
(3) Required to furnish proof of successful completion of an impaired driver intervention program prior to the restoration of the person's driver's license or privilege to drive, provided that, if the person has previously completed, or been required by a court or the department of safety to complete, an impaired driver intervention program (I.D.I.P.) or any similar program in any jurisdiction, the person shall be required to furnish proof of successful completion of the multiple DWI offender intervention detention center program (M.O.P.) or an equivalent 7-day residential intervention program approved by the commissioner of health and human services;
(4) The person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 9 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, provided that the person has entered into the relevant driver intervention program required by sub-paragraph (3) within 45 days after conviction, or as soon thereafter as any extenuating circumstances approved by the department of health and human services allow;
(5) The sentencing court may sentence the person to additional alcohol and/or drug treatment and counseling, or to a treatment program approved by the commissioner of health and human services, or both. In addition, the court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other tests as the court may deem appropriate; and
(6) The court in which the person was convicted may reduce the conviction to a violation upon a motion filed by either party at least one year after the date of the conviction. In deciding whether to reduce the conviction to a violation, the court may consider the person's subsequent driving record, any evidence of drug or alcohol treatment, the hardship that having a criminal record may cause for the person, and any other factors that the court deems relevant.
(b) Any person who is convicted of any aggravated DWI offense under RSA 265-A:3, except as provided in sub-paragraph (c), shall be:
(1) Guilty of a class A misdemeanor;
(2) Fined not less than $750;
(3) Sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 10 consecutive days of which 3 consecutive 24-hour periods shall be served in the county correctional facility and 7 consecutive 24-hour periods shall be served at the state-operated 7-day multiple DWI offender intervention detention center established under RSA 265-A:40, which sentence shall begin no later than 21 days after conviction. In the event that the state-operated 7-day multiple DWI offender intervention detention center has no available space, the person shall be assigned to an equivalent 7-day residential intervention program approved by the commissioner of health and human services. The person shall begin following any treatment recommendations arising out of the final evaluation given to the person at the multiple DWI offender intervention detention center or equivalent program within 60 days after the person has completed serving the required 7 consecutive 24-hour periods or such other time as the court may order;
(4) The person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 18 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. Except for good cause found by the court and noted in writing, the court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, provided that the person has entered into the relevant driver intervention program required by sub-paragraph (3) as soon as any circumstances approved by the department of health of human services allow;
(5) The sentencing court may sentence the person to additional alcohol and/or drug treatment and counseling, or to a treatment program approved by the commissioner of health and human services, or both. In addition, the court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other test as the court may deem appropriate; and
(6) A person who leaves the relevant driver intervention program required by sub-paragraph IV(a)(3) before completion and fails to return and complete it as soon as extenuating circumstances approved by the department of health and human services allow or who fails to begin following treatment recommendations within the time required by sub-paragraph IV(a)(3) shall be in contempt of court and shall serve a minimum of 14 days in


If you are in New Hampshire and have questions regarding DWI, Aggravated DWI, DUI, OUI, or boating while intoxicated please feel free to call me at 603-893-0074.