Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog
A South Boston man who was arrested last month for buying OxyContin apparently worked for the city driving tow trucks for close to three years even though he didn’t have a driver’s license.
William E. Morin Jr’s driver’s license had been suspended from March 2000 until November 2003. He was hired by Boston’s Transportation Department to drive tow trucks in April 2000 even though his driving record showed that his license was suspended for not paying fines for a seatbelt violation in Dedham and a speeding ticket in Westborough. His license was reinstated in November 2003.
There are unpaid fines for the suspension but Morin says he did not know that his license was suspended.
Last March, the city of Boston promised to review the driving records of all its heavy equipment operators after the Boston Glob reported that the city regularly let workers drive heavy motor vehicles even if they had violations on their driving records. Violations ranged from reckless endangerment to drunk driving violations to running red lights to causing accidents to disobeying police to license suspensions. The Boston Globe say the 178 heavy equipment operators they investigated collectively had some 834 citations on their personal driving records.
Morin’s license has been suspended three other times. The first time was in 1989 when he failed to show up in court after getting a speeding ticket in Quincy. The second suspension was in 1990 when he did not appear in court after getting a traffic ticket in Weymouth. His license was suspended from March 1991 to October 1993 for not showing up in court after getting a speeding ticket in Middleborough. He almost got his license suspended again in December 2003 and December 2005. He paid the fines, however, and showed up when required, so license was not suspended both times.
Even if you are a second- or third-time offender of traffic violations, it is essential to protect your driving record. An experienced traffic violations attorney can defend you against charges for:
• Unpaid tickets
• Driving without insurance • Speeding tickets • Driving without a license • Driving with a suspended license • Driving with a license that is expired • Reckless driving • Hit and run • Leaving the accident scene • Arrest warrants for traffic violations
Morin was arrested on July 20 while leaving the house of a suspected drug dealer in South Boston. Police say he was carrying 14 OxyContin pills in his pocket. Police let him participate in what they say was another drug transaction before apprehending him. Morin was wearing his uniform and driving a city motor vehicle when he was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute OxyContin within 1000 feet of a school zone.
Possession and distribution of drugs is illegal and the punishments for a drug conviction in Massachusetts are severe. Drug charges in Massachusetts can be prosecuted at the federal or state levels. The amount of drugs involved, whether there was the intention to distribute or sell the drug, and whether any weapons were involved are just some of the factors that must be taken into consideration when determining drug charges.
A good criminal defense lawyer can defend you against drug charges.
City hired driver without license, Boston.com, July 31, 2007
Related Web Resources:
Mass. Law About Traffic Violations
Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts
For over 40 years, Altman & Altman LLP has represented clients that have been charged with committing a crime in the state of Massachusetts. Felony and violent Crimes, drug offenses, juvenile crimes, and drunk driving are just some of the many kinds of criminal cases that we have successfully handled for our clients.
For a free case evaluation with one of our criminal defense lawyers, contact Altman & Altman LLP today.
