Thursday, May 18, 2017

4 of Attorney Murray's Clients Avoid Drunk Driving Convictions

Case # 1: OWI/PAC - 1st (with .138 blood test) Reduced To Reckless Driving


RS was coming home from a wedding in an unfamiliar area. He was radared  traveling 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, pulled over and put through field sobriety tests after the officer alleged glossy eyes, the odor of intoxicants and that RS nearly dropped his insurance paperwork out of the window when providing it to the officer.

The officer alleged that he observed all the clues on the HGN test, 3 of 8 clues on the Walk and Turn test, and 2 of 8 clues on the One Leg Stand test. RS also was unable to recite the alphabet as instructed by the officer. A preliminary breath test returned a result of 0.123. A blood test returned a result of 0.138.

Attorney Murray filed a motion asserting that the officer failed to provide the proper administrative suspension paperwork based upon the officer putting "no" in the paperwork that asks if a certain form was provided. The prosecutor responded that such paperwork is automatically populated by a computer and that the officer was prepared to testify that he indeed did provide the paperwork to RS. However, anticipating this at the beginning of the case, Attorney Murray specifically asked this question at the administrative suspension hearing and the officer indicated he did complete this particular section of the form manually.

Ultimately, the day before the motion hearing and jury trial, the prosecutor agreed to amend the charge. RS could not be happier as a drunk driving conviction would have made it difficult or impossible for him to visit his in-laws in another country. RS can now rest assured that he can leave the country with his wife to see family. He was so happy that he posted the 5-star review of Matt's work titled "Won my case" on the independent lawyer rating website Avvo: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/53081-wi-matthew-murray-1798857.htm#client_reviews.

Case # 2: OWI/PAC - 1st (with .18 Breath Test) Reduced Reckless Driving


DG was pulled over at 11:28 PM for traveling 41 MPH in a 35 MPH zone and for traveling over the fog line. She handed the officer her credit card when asked for her driver's license and the officer noticed the odor of intoxicants, red/glassy eyes, and slurred speech. DG denied drinking but was nevertheless asked to perform field sobriety tests, which she allegedly failed. A preliminary breath test returned a result of 0.19 and the evidentiary breath test at the police station return a result of 0.18. This occurred in 2014.

Occasionally, cases are lost or forgotten about by the prosecutor and that is what happened here. Attorney Murray laid low knowing full well that the longer the case remains pending, the stronger the case for a motion to dismiss for failure to prosecute. Years later, the court discovered what was happening and scheduled a hearing. Attorney Murray was then able to work out an amendment to a Reckless Driving ticket.

Case # 3: OWI/PAC - 1st (with .211 Blood Test) Reduced to Reckless Driving


Officers were dispatched to a report of a red four-door car parked on railroad tracks. Upon arrival, there was no vehicle on the railroad tracks, but there was a red four-door car parked in a nearby parking lot. The officer pulled into the parking lot and the vehicle began to drive away. The officer then conducted a traffic stop, which ultimately led to LW being arrested for Operating While Intoxicated - 1st Offense. Attorney Murray was able to convince the prosecutor that the basis for the stop was insufficient and the parties agreed to resolve the case with a Reckless Driving ticket.

Case # 4: OWI/PAC - 1st (with .135 Blood Test) Amended to Non-Traffic Offense for CDL Client


FG had a difficult case. He was called in by a store owner stating that FG was driving on his lawn and doing doughnuts in the middle of the road. Police were dispatched and found FD stopped at a traffic light. FG had his foot on and off the brake at the light tot he point where his vehicle was visibly jerking. FG then cut the officer off going from the far right lane to the left turning lane. To make matters worse, FG had a bottle of liquor in the car and failed the field sobriety tests according to the officer. A blood draw was performed and the test returned a result of 0.135. Unfortunately, FG was also a commercial driver and a conviction on either the OWI or PAC charge meant that FG would lose his career.

Attorney Murray filed several motions challenging the initial detention, administration of the field sobriety tests, and the arrest. By watching the officer's body camera, Attorney Murray also discovered that FG's blood test was performed in the garage of the hospital because all of the emergency rooms were occupied. To make matters worse, everything was done beside a dirty garbage can with much of the equipment being placed on the lid of the garbage can! Based upon this discovery, Attorney Murray challenged the blood test. Prior to the motion hearing, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the OWI and PAC charges and have the non-alcohol related charge of Negligent Operation issued which does not show up on an individual's driving record. Career saved.

*Since joining Melowski and Associates in September of 2012, Attorney Murray has obtained 33 amendments or dismissals in drunk driving cases among many other fantastic results.