Briones Law Group Blog

Driving under the influence of marijuana.

As most of you may know, two dispensaries in Massachusetts; Cultivate, in Leicester, and New England Treatment Access, in Northampton, have begun selling marijuana for recreational usage. Before patronizing your nearest dispensary, it is important that you are aware of Massachusetts’ state laws regarding Marijuana consumption. One of the largest issues related to the legalization of Marijuana, is how to measure an individual’s level of impairment while driving. It is illegal to operate a vehicle

The Gray Revolution

Have you ever heard of a “gray” divorce? This term refers to a marital split between two people who are over the age of 50. The divorce rate for this demographic is skyrocketing. Why would a long term marriage come to an end at advanced ages? There are a few factors at play; beginning with the fact that life expectancy has increased. Once a couple’s children have grown up and moved out, they may find

What information do I need to get when I am involved in a motor vehicle accident?

No one anticipates being in a car accident. When it happens, you often aren’t thinking clearly and there can be a lot going on. People often ask me what information they need if they are in a motor vehicle accident. Here’s a list of very helpful information to obtain from the other driver: -Take a picture of their driver’s license if possible. If not possible, ask to see their license and write down their name,

Ice, snow and slush, oh my!

If you found yourself slipping in this slush this morning, you are not alone. While the snow last night may have been beautiful, the conditions we woke up to this morning pose some dangers. Accidents can happen to even the most seasoned New Englanders. During the winter, your risk of personal injury drastically increases. In the coming season, it is important to know that it is the responsibility of a property owner to maintain safe

Slipping and falling at the Supermarket

Falls at the supermarket happen all the time. The most common place to fall is in the produce aisle. The reason for this is those little sprayers that spray water on the fruits and veggies to keep them fresh. They also cause a lot of people to wipe out. Another big cause of falls at the supermarket are spills on the floor from any number of causes. When is a supermarket responsible for their customers

What happens to me if I refuse to take a Breathalyzer test when pulled over?

Drivers in Massachusetts ought to be especially wary when they see those blue lights flash behind them, given the spotty track record of the Breathalyzers used to test for DUI violations by police departments across the Commonwealth. Sober, responsible drivers found themselves in a lot of trouble because of inaccurately prepared and used Breathalyzers. Since 2017, numerous legal challenges and complaints have surfaced regarding the main Breathalyzer model used in the state, the Draeger 9510

Our family is hoping the RMV doesn’t renew dad’s license.

My Dad turns 80 next month and his driver’s license is up for renewal. Our family is hoping the RMV doesn’t renew his license because we think his driving is dangerous, but he insists on driving. What can we do? In the United States, getting one’s driver’s license is a rite of passage. Access to a car or other vehicle allows great freedom and independence: to go where we wish, do what we wish, and

Motor Vehicle Homicide charge was the result of a frosted windshield.

This morning’s frost reminded me about something I heard about last year and caused me to pause and warm up my teenager’s car before he left for school today. An employee of a friend of mine was in a rush one morning and scraped only a part of his windshield. His life changed irrevocably because of this. As he pulled out of his driveway to head to work, he didn’t see the jogger on his

Is it true that courts favor mothers in child custody decisions?

While it remains a common belief that courts favor, or are even biased for, mothers in child custody disputes, this is not the case. The belief stems from past practices and trends in court. When divorce became more common in the 1970s, society, including the judges within it, assumed a gendered division of labor within households. Before women entered the workforce in large numbers, men were expected to be the providers. Women, on the other

SJC overturns more drug convictions.

Last week, the Supreme Judicial Court of MA overturned more drug convictions resulting from the chemist at the Amherst drug lab. Additionally, the Court is requiring Attorney General Maura Healy’s office to cover the cost of reaching out to all persons affected by this decision. The result is that there are potentially 13,000 convictions that will now be overturned. Some of those convicted may still be serving time in jail for their convictions. The criminal

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