If you're accused of a crime and required to answer to the charges against you in court, a clause of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives you the right to a speedy trial. In other words, you can't be held in custody indefinitely simply because prosecutors aren't prepared or your case is delayed for other reasons. Oregon and many other states also have statutes stating this right. Sometimes, however, it takes a push from a criminal defense attorney to exercise it.
Oregon sheriff's deputy charged with misdemeanor DUII
Even if you've never been charged with driving under the influence, you can imagine the potential damage to your career and personal reputation. The costs are even higher for those whose job it is to protect other people from drunk drivers.
Oregon man with multiple DUIs sentenced to prison
Although many people who are convicted of driving under the influence never make the mistake of driving drunk again, there are plenty of drivers who have an addiction that causes them to repeat the offense over and over, even if they've been arrested several times. Many of these drivers assume that if they're able to drive drunk the first time, they can continue the habit indefinitely. But that assumption puts everyone at great risk.
Report: Marijuana use up, cocaine down in Portland, other cities
Marijuana use is growing among men arrested in Portland, Oregon, and nine other major U.S. cities, but fewer are using cocaine, according to the annual report of a federal drug monitoring program. The 2011 Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Annual Report, which tracks drug use among arrestees, also says that marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance.
Oregon father charged with DUII not allowed to contact son
Recently we highlighted the case of an Oregon man who was arrested after police allegedly found his 10-year-old son driving while the father sat in the passenger seat. A development in the case points out the risks of being charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Under the DUII limit may not mean off the hook in Oregon
When police pull over someone they suspect has been driving drunk, they use a range of tests to determine his or her level of intoxication. Even if you don't have any firsthand experience, you've probably heard or read stories about the signs that officers look for: bloodshot eyes, the smell of alcohol on the driver's breath, and a litany of other sobriety tests, such as having the driver walk a straight line or recite the alphabet backwards.
'Lost' star Matthew Fox arrested on DUII charges in Oregon
Even before that famous mug shot of Nick Nolte surfaced years ago, people have obsessed over celebrities who find themselves in trouble with the law. The reality is that fame doesn't protect anyone from an arrest or a court date if authorities suspect they've done something illegal. And while an incriminating photo of an actor or professional athlete provides celebrity tabloid fodder that's entertaining to some, it can also serve as a reminder that everyone makes mistakes.
Oregon man arrested on DUII charges after son found driving SUV
We've all been told that if we're too intoxicated to drive, we should leave the driving to a sober friend or family member. But there are some clear exceptions to this piece of advice.
Oregon transportation official pushing for tougher DUII laws
A former police officer who now coordinates the Oregon Department of Transportation's impaired driving program is pushing for tougher DUII laws that would include any substance that impairs drivers, including prescription drugs. She says that abuse of these medications is an increasing problem in the state, but drivers affected by them currently aren't charged with a DUII.