Former NHL player Chris Chelios avoided a license loss for refusing a breathalyzer as the judge ruled that the police did not have enough evidence to support the one year license loss under Illinois DUI law for breathalyzer refusal. The judge reviewed a video of Chelios that showed him sway a little during the one leg stand, but Chelios presented evidence that he had nine knee operations during his NHL career. Accordingly, the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the license suspension for breathalzyer refusal.
While Chelios' knee injuries are well documented, given he played 24 years in the NHL for the Red Wings and Blackhawks, those arrested for a Massachusetts OUI can also present medical evidence to rebut claims of lack of balance and coordination on field sobriety tests.
There are many defenses to Massachusetts DUI cases, including medical defenses, attacks on the observations of the officers, method of administration of field sobriety tests and reliability of the breathalyzer testing, and compliance with regulations in conducting breathalyzer tests. Michael DelSignore is a DUI lawyer in Massachusetts that will explain these defenses to you. Call for a free consultation, 508-455-4755 or send an email and learn the defenses in your case.
