Nichols & Tucker, P.A.

Maine Is an Impaired Driving State

Matthew Nichols — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:50:05 +0000

After people cross the Piscataqua River Bridge heading north from New Hampshire, they are greeted by a few very large Maine D.O.T. signs. One says that MAINE HAS TOUGH DRUNK DRIVING LAWS. That is something of a misnomer. It should say that in Maine, it is against the law to drive while your mental or […]

The post Maine Is an Impaired Driving State appeared first on Nichols & Tucker, P.A..

DUI / OUI charges: What happens to your license at DMV?

Matthew Nichols — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 00:38:16 +0000

In Maine, if you get charged with OUI, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will move quickly to suspend your driver’s license, independent of what happens with your criminal charges in court. Now in private practice as an OUI defense lawyer at Nichols & Tucker, my past experience as a former BMV hearings officer and […]

The post DUI / OUI charges: What happens to your license at DMV? appeared first on Nichols & Tucker, P.A..

Breath Testing Pre-Test Protocols

Matthew Nichols — Thu, 20 May 2021 14:07:39 +0000

When administering a breath test , the officer is required to follow certain pre-test protocols Immediately prior to asking the subject to blow into the mouth piece. The term that you will see in the police report is called “the fifteen minute observation period”. The fifteen minute observation period starts with a mouth inspection by […]

The post Breath Testing Pre-Test Protocols appeared first on Nichols & Tucker, P.A..

Anxiety and OUI

Matthew Nichols — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:59:02 +0000

For the last 32 years I have been exclusively practicing criminal defense work. My cases have ranged from a large number of homicides, attempted murder, arson and cases of that ilk. For the last 27 years around 90% of my practice has been defending Operating Under The Influence (OUI) cases. That practice has included presenting […]

The post Anxiety and OUI appeared first on Nichols & Tucker, P.A..

Deferred Disposition In Maine

Matthew Nichols — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:41:26 +0000

Traditionally, a person accused of committing a crime has had three choices after plea negotiations were exhausted: Plead guilty/no contest with an agreed upon Plead guilty/no contest without an agreed upon disposition with an opportunity for the State and the defense to present arguments to the court for what each party believes is an appropriate […]

The post Deferred Disposition In Maine appeared first on Nichols & Tucker, P.A..