Caught Under the Influence in “Beautiful Place by the Sea”
Ogunquit, Maine — whose name aptly translates to “beautiful place by the sea” in the indigenous Abenaki language — attracts thousands of visitors each year to its stunning 3.5-mile stretch of sandy beaches, picturesque Marginal Way oceanfront path, and charming Perkins Cove. With a year-round population of only about 1,600 residents, this York County coastal gem transforms during summer months as tourists flock to enjoy its vibrant array of restaurants, bars, art galleries, and boutique shops.
But this popular vacation spot sees its share of legal troubles as well. Each summer season brings a significant increase in OUI (Operating Under the Influence) arrests along Ogunquit’s Shore Road and throughout York County. While specific statistics aren’t publicly available, law enforcement records indicate that a substantial percentage of these arrests involve out-of-state visitors — particularly Massachusetts residents — who find themselves facing Maine’s strict OUI laws after an evening enjoying Ogunquit’s renowned dining and nightlife scene.
The Power of Specialized Experience
With over thirty years dedicated specifically to defending OUI and DUI cases, Attorney Michael Bowser has developed a depth of expertise that few can match. This isn’t general criminal defense work — it’s specialized advocacy in a complex legal niche that requires intimate knowledge of:
- Scientific principles behind breath and blood testing
- Constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures
- Proper field sobriety test administration
- Police procedure during traffic stops and arrests
- Complex interstate reciprocity issues affecting license suspensions
A Unique Tri-State Practice
As the only attorney maintaining local offices and active law licenses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, Michael Bowser offers something truly distinct. He is also the only lawyer across all three states who is Board Certified as a DUI Defense Specialist by the National College of DUI Defense. This unique position provides critical advantages:
- Comprehensive Interstate Knowledge: Understanding how each state’s laws interact is crucial when charges in one state can affect your driving privileges in another.
- Local Court Familiarity: Regular practice in the courts of all three states means established relationships with prosecutors, judges, and court personnel — connections that matter.
- No Geographic Limitations: No matter where in these three states your case originates, you receive consistent, high-quality representation without having to find separate counsel.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Success in DUI/OUI defense isn’t theoretical — it’s measured in real outcomes. With over one thousand not-guilty verdicts secured before juries and judges across three states, our record demonstrates not just experience, but effectiveness.
These aren’t simply cases that were pleaded down or resolved through technicalities. These are full acquittals achieved through meticulous preparation, strategic trial skills, and deep knowledge of the scientific and legal principles at play.
Our track record of success at trial also means many criminal OUI or DUI charges in New Hampshire and Maine are successfully negotiated to an end disposition that avoids a drunk driving conviction and takes the matter out from under Melanie’s Law Lifetime Lookback for a Massachusetts resident with a prior OUI history.
Beyond Basic DUI/OUI Charges
Our expertise extends to the full spectrum of related charges that often accompany or stem from impaired driving allegations:
- Reckless Driving
- Negligent Driving
- Driving to Endanger
- Operating After Suspension or Revocation
- Habitual Traffic Offender violations
- Reckless Conduct
- Aggravated DUI
- Felony OUI
- OUI Serious Bodily Injury
- Motor Vehicle Homicide
- Open Alcohol Container violations
- Possession of Controlled Substances
- DUI Drugs
- OUI Drugs
We understand not just the immediate consequences of these charges, but their long-term implications for your driving privileges, insurance rates, and even employment prospects.
The Interstate Dimension
One of the most complex aspects of OUI/DUI defense in the Northeast is managing the reciprocity agreements between Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. These agreements can mean that:
- A license suspension in one state triggers suspensions in others
- Prior convictions in neighboring states can enhance penalties
- Administrative sanctions in one jurisdiction affect your driving privileges across all three
- Lifetime Lookback provisions of Massachusetts’ Melanie’s Law
- IDCMP (Impaired Driver Care Management Program) reciprocity requirements from NH DMV
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) requirements across state lines
- Hardship or early reinstatement options in your home state
This interstate web of consequences requires specialized knowledge to navigate effectively. With offices and full licensure in all three jurisdictions, Bowser Law provides seamless representation that accounts for these complex interstate issues.
When Your Future Is at Stake
An OUI or DUI charge is more than just a traffic ticket — it’s a criminal matter with potential consequences including:
- Jail time
- Substantial fines
- Loss of license
- Mandatory education programs
- Ignition interlock devices
- Criminal record implications
- Insurance premium increases
- Professional license impacts
With so much on the line, experience isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Bowser Law brings thirty years of focused OUI/DUI defense work, thousands of cases, and over one thousand successful trial verdicts to your defense.
Contact Bowser Law Today
If you’re facing OUI, DUI or related charges in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Maine, don’t leave your future to chance. Contact the law office with the experience, track record, and unique tri-state capability to provide the strongest possible defense.
Your initial one-hour consultation is always free and completely confidential, and it’s the first step toward protecting your rights, your license, and your future.