A TEAM OF FORMER PROSECUTORS FIGHTING FOR YOU The law firm of Lynch & Pine is made up of some of Rhode Island’s most talented former prosecutors. After years of successfully representing the people of the state, we have turned our focus to defending those accused of crimes, or who may be dealing with government investigations. We handle state offenses across Rhode Island as well as federal crimes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Founding attorneys Patrick Lynch and Jeffrey Pine are both former Rhode Island Attorneys General. Every other lawyer on our team has served as a prosecutor for the State of Rhode Island. Our complete knowledge of the law and thorough understanding of how the government prepares its cases put us in a singularly advantageous position to build a compelling defense on your behalf. Our extensive litigation experience benefits clients in every aspect of our practice. From our primary practice in criminal defense to the cases we handle in the areas of family law, business law and personal injury, we are well-known for our ability to effectively argue our clients’ cases in court. Between our time as prosecutors and our time in private practice, we have litigated, literally, thousands of cases collectively. When you choose our firm, you can feel confident in our ability to provide the timely representation you need. We work closely with you to understand your unique legal needs and develop a customized strategy designed specifically to address them. Please take a few minutes to learn more about our attorneys and their backgrounds. Choose a name from the list below to get started.
DUI AND BREATHALYZER REFUSALS If you are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving, your first thought will be: “Should I take the breath test or refuse it?” Your second thought: “Will I keep my license?” SHOULD YOU REFUSE A BREATHALYZER? You will probably be given two tickets, the first requiring a date in district court for driving under the influence, and the second for Rhode Island Traffic Court for refusing to take the test. Many people do not realize this means you must make two separate court appearances at two different court locations on two different dates. Rhode Island is an “implied consent” state, meaning that when you obtained your driver’s license you implicitly accepted the idea of being chemically tested if the police suspect you are driving under the influence. If you refuse the test, you are considered to have reneged on this consent, and your driver’s license may be suspended. ACT QUICKLY BEFORE THE WINDOW CLOSES It is therefore important, the moment you are pulled over, to contact a DUI attorney like the ones at Lynch & Pine. If you fail to act quickly, you may be ordered to give up your license at your first appearance at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. SUCCESSFUL PROVIDENCE DRUNK DRIVING DEFENSE LAWYERS DUI/Breathalyzer cases are resolved through analysis of the facts and knowledge of the law. To convict you of refusing to take the test, the state must prove that pulling you over was a reasonable thing to do, that it was reasonable to arrest you for DUI, and that you were fully informed of the consequences of refusing the test. In any DUI or breathalyzer refusal case, there are opportunities to build a defense. Our attorneys will analyze the facts to determine if you were driving erratically, if the evidence of drunk driving is scant, or if the police procedures were not followed to the letter of the law. KNOW WHAT THE OTHER SIDE IS THINKING The best lawyers, we believe, are those who have worked on both sides, both prosecution and defense; they know exactly how the other side thinks. The law is complex and too much of inexperienced lawyers to handle.