Tara Reynolds signs release allowing her to act as own attorney
You don't get any more centrally located than the intersection of North Pleasant and Amity Street, dead in the heart of downtown Amherst. Not a good place to be so drunk you pass out ... especially if you happen to be driving a car.
APD Statement of Facts. Click to enlarge/read
In Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning Tara M Reynolds, age 24, had a plea of "not guilty" entered in her behalf by Judge Patricia Poehler. A little later she agreed to a typical Ch24D, 1st time offender plea deal with the prosecution:
Continued Without A Finding for one year (a.k.a "probation" @ $65/month), take a Driver Alcohol Education Program, and pay $600 in fines and fees. In other words a very expensive night out in our little college town.
The "breath test" taken back at APD station is admissible in court (the portable breath test taken in the field is not). And I have yet to attend a drunk driving trial where a person has beaten the breath test as evidence.
2 comments:
"I have yet to attend a drunk driving trial where a person has beaten the breath test as evidence"
Yep, I know a lawyer who specializes in DUI. He says all his repeat offenders (!) know not to take the test.
I was actually on a jury in Hampshire District Court for a DUI in which the breathalyzer data showed the defendant to be legally intoxicated-- however the jury decided to acquit because the evidence presented by the arresting officer and the prosecution didn't seem to add up-
They even had the damn breathalyzer tech as a expert witness to verify the machine at Northampton PD was in fact functioning...
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