Domestic violence criminal charges in Hawaii often involve both physical harm and emotional trauma. These charges cover a range of abusive behaviors occurring within family or household relationships. They may be based in reality or they may result from false accusations. Understanding the criminal justice process for these cases in Hawaii is essential for those impacted. The state’s approach aims to address the complexity of domestic violence cases, ensuring justice while upholding the rights of all involved. Reporting and investigation The process begins with the reporting of a domestic viol ..read more

No matter where you are in the United States, distracted driving is a significant concern – and Hawaii is no exception. Distracted driving puts both the driver concerned and everybody else on the road at risk of harm. That’s why Hawaii, like many other states, has rules about the use of mobile electronic devices, like cellphones, behind the wheel. If you’re going to be driving in this state, it’s smart to understand them. Keep your hands off your phone while you’re driving While distracted driving can take numerous different forms, there’s been a notable increase in the problem since smartphon ..read more

There is a broad spectrum of traffic offenses that police encounter on the roads in Hawaii every day. Many people accused of violating traffic statutes face basic and straightforward allegations, such as claims that they exceeded the posted speed limit. The majority of these infractions will lead only to a traffic citation and a financial penalty rather than any actual criminal charges. However, certain traffic offenses are serious enough to warrant criminal prosecution. Reckless driving is one of the traffic offenses that can lead to criminal charges and possibly a criminal record after a con ..read more

The average motorist is relatively dismissive about traffic tickets. Despite being a formal allegation of a violation of state law, people often treat tickets like minor frustrations. People tend to think of tickets as an expensive inconvenience and dismiss the idea that they could fight them. They may not realize that paying a citation is the same thing as pleading guilty to the officer’s allegations. The average person who is cited during a traffic stop will pay the ticket as soon as possible. Even those who believe that the officer erred in issuing the ticket will often pay a citation becau ..read more

Effective at the beginning of 2023, Hawaii enacted a new law that makes it possible for those with a first conviction for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (OVUII) to be able to drive during the period that their regular driving privileges would ordinarily be fully revoked. To be allowed to drive legally, they must have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in any vehicle they’re driving. An IID is essentially a breathalyzer-type device that requires a driver to blow into it and show that they’re sober in order for the vehicle to start. Further, any attempt to sta ..read more

If someone asks to borrow your car, one potential problem that will likely concern you is the reality that they could get into an accident. Insurance policies can vary from one case to the next, but insurance often follows the vehicle. This means that your insurance would likely still have to pay if someone else got into an accident in your car. But, what about traffic tickets? Say that the person gets pulled over while driving your vehicle. Is this challenge going to have any impact on you? It depends on the type of ticket The ins and outs of tickets can be very different from one situation t ..read more

You admit that you had a drink or two while you were out with friends, but you definitely didn’t feel intoxicated. Unfortunately, you were stopped by the police when you were driving home. One thing led to another, and you were asked to take a breath test to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC). You blew a .04, which is half the legal limit of .08, so why did you end up in handcuffs? Most likely, you’ve fallen prey to a common misconception. A BAC of .08 is the “per se” standard for intoxication When officers have evidence that your blood alcohol content is .08 or above, that’s the “per ..read more

There are certainly cases where people make no effort to get sober before getting in the car, and they are not surprised when they get pulled over for drunk driving. They likely just hoped that they wouldn’t get caught. But there are also people who feel that they have taken the proper steps to get sober first, and they are surprised that this still counts as impaired driving. They didn’t even think that they were breaking the law. Much of the time, the real issue here is just that the individual that was told a myth about how they could get sober, they believed it and they took action to redu ..read more

Driving when you have alcohol in your system can be a costly mistake. Alcohol affects your decision-making ability and could lead to a tragic and totally preventable collision. It is against the law to drive while drunk in all 50 states, including Hawaii. The technical term for a drunk driving offense is an operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (OVUII) charge. Those who are over the legal limit or who show obvious signs of impaired ability could face OVUII charges. What penalties will that defendant face if they plead guilty or get convicted in criminal court? Your driving h ..read more

Speeding is a traffic violation in all of the states, and there is no difference in Hawaii. In fact, because the roads may be narrower or more treacherous in some parts of the state, it’s even more important not to speed. If you or someone you know was speeding and stopped by a police officer, then you may now be facing a traffic ticket. For excessive speeding, you may also be accused of reckless driving, which is another serious offense that you need to defend against. Reckless driving and excessive speeding Excessive speeding in Hawaii occurs when you’re going over 80 mph or when you’re goin ..read more