The New Hampshire Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that discusses how long the Department of Safety can suspend a resident’s boating privileges after that person has been convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI).
In the case, the convicted person was driving a boat when it crashed. Based on this accident and other evidence, a trial court decided the boater was guilty of drunk driving, or boating while intoxicated in NH, and as part of the consequences for that conviction, the Department of Safety suspended the driver’s boating license for three years.
In response, the boater argued that the Department of Safety should have specific rules that state whether and for how long it may suspend a boater’s license, and for what reasons. Unlike the specific state laws that govern driver’s license suspensions after a DUI, the rules that govern when the Department of Safety can suspend a boating license are extremely vague. They give the Department of Safety the power to suspend boating licenses, but they don’t explain how long suspensions should be or when suspensions are appropriate.
Stiff criminal penalties are part of a New Hampshire DUI conviction, but the penalties don’t stop at jail or probation. They may also include the loss of other important things, like a driver’s license or boating license. If you’re facing DUI charges in New Hampshire, the experienced DUI attorneys in New Hampshire at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you fight to protect your rights and seek the best possible outcome in your case. For more information, call us at (888) 332-5855 today for a free and confidential case evaluation.