Lawmakers and supporters of Melanie’s Law are mad after a sensationalized news report in the Boston Herald that there are nearly 1,000 drivers on Massachusetts roads with five or more OUI convictions. They are driving with unrestricted licenses despite laws which mandates permanent license revocation after a 5th offense conviction. [Read more…]
Police Budget Cuts in Worcester Mean Fewer OUI Arrests
Via golocalworcester.com, budget cuts have significantly reduced police staffing, resulting in fewer stops and arrests. [Read more…]
Better Late Than Never: Boston PD Admits Wrongful Arrest of Cop-Filmer
Four years after attorney Simon Gilk was arrested for videotaping police officers, the Boston Police Department has admitted the officers were wrong for taking him into custody. But their admittance is too little too late for the attorney who plans on moving forward with his lawsuit against the department. [Read more…]
Significant Support for Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts
In November, the DAPA conducted a poll for the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition and NORML on the public’s opinion of marijuana. What they found may indicate a willingness to pass medical marijuana legislation at the polls next November if lawmakers don’t enact a similar law in the meantime. [Read more…]
Less Than Half Of Mass Drunk Driving Charges Result in Conviction
The Boston Herald released the findings of their look into the records of the state Registry of Motor Vehicles this week where they found that only 49% of drunk driving charges in the state end in a guilty disposition. The reports reviewed dated from 2006 through 2009.
[Read more…]Registry Certificate Evidence Requires Testimony
A registry certification document is not sufficient evidence to prove that a person was notified of a license suspension. The SJC ruling says that if the Commonwealth is to prove that the person received “notice” that their license was suspended, it cannot simply introduce a certified document from the RMV which says that the notice was sent out. That document is “testimonial” and therefore cannot be introduced without accompanying testimony. [Read more…]