1 Dennis F. Ryan Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169
(617) 471-1650
James Geraghty’s recent cases in Quincy District Court:
November 2015
The officer testified that after the client entered a sobriety checkpoint, he was asked to exit due to his operation within the checkpoint. Prior to exiting, the officer stated the client’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car and the client had uncoordinated movements, admitted drinking a “few” glasses of wine when asked and had slurred speech. The officer further stated the client was unsteady on his feet when getting out of the car, walking and standing and could not say the alphabet or count backwards as instructed. The officer testified that the client failed the walk and turn and one leg stand field sobriety tests. NOT GUILTY
April 2015
The officer testified the client entered a checkpoint and due to smelling like alcohol and having glassy and bloodshot eyes, he sent the client into the pit area where a second officer met him. The second officer also testified that the client smelled like alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and that he admitted having three 16 oz beers and a shot of Jamison. The officer stated the client failed the one leg stand field sobriety test as he put his foot down twice and was unsteady on his feet when he attempted to turn around during the walk and turn field sobriety test. NOT GUILTY
June 2014
The officer reported the client was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint, had bloodshot and glassy eyes and admitted having a few drinks while at a club. The officer stated the client could not say the alphabet and failed the one leg stand field sobriety test. BAC .11. CASE DISMISSED
April 2014
The officer reported the client stopped short causing him to also stop short to avoid hitting him. The officer stated the client smelled of alcohol, admitted drinking a few beers, then two beers, had red and glassy eyes and was unsteady on his feet. The officer further reported the client failed the walk and turn and one leg stand field sobriety tests and could not count backwards or say the alphabet as instructed. CASE DISMISSED
May 2013
While conducting a sobriety checkpoint, the officer reported he had to waive his hands and arms several times in order to get the client’s attention and while attempting to park, the client took a wide turn into the parking spot. The officer further reported the client smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot and slightly red eyes, slurred speech and admitted drinking one, then later two beers before driving. The officer stated the client failed the one leg stand and walk and turn field sobriety tests. OUI DISMISSED
The officer reported that he observed a running car blocking traffic as it was parked half in a driveway and half in the street with the client sleeping behind the wheel. After knocking on the window and yelling at the client, the officer further reported the client did not wake up. The officer stated that after a second officer arrived, he and the other officer, after several minutes, were able to wake him up and he appeared confused at the officers’ request to turn off the vehicle so the second officer reached in, unlocked the door and turned the vehicle off. The officer further stated the client smelled strongly of alcohol, struggled exiting the vehicle and fell backwards and was unsteady on his feet once out of the car, leaning on the car for balance. BAC .17. OUI DISMISSED
Officers where dispatched on a report of a rear end collision at the local CVS parking lot.. The police responded and learned that the client had rear ended a motorist. The officers approach the client and note that client is slurring her words and has red, watery glassy eyes. The client is administered the standardized field sobriety tests and is unable to complete them. The client was unable to count backwards, was unable to stand on one foot for more than a few seconds and almost fell over on the the nine step walk and turn test. The client was subsequently arrested and charged with OUI. At the station the client elected to take the breath test and registered a .26, more than three times the legal limit. CASE DISMISSED
Client is traveling on 93 South in Quincy and is pulled over when her car travels over the lane marker and strikes another vehicle. The client is unable to produce her license and registration without fumbling and dropping the documents and admits to drinking several beers earlier in the evening. THe client agreed to take the standardized field sobriety tests. During the one legged stand test, the client is unable to hold her foot off the ground for more than 5 seconds and fails this test. During the nine step walk and turn test, the client is unable to walk the correct number of steps in a heel to toe fashion and made an improper turn. The client is subsequently arrested and charged with Operating Under the Influence. CASE DISMISSED
A civilian caller dials 911 to report a vehicle that is driving highly erratic and trying to pass her vehicle. The police officers subsequently find the client’s vehicle at a stop sign and pull the client to the side of the road. The officer notes the clients speech to be slurred, a strong odor of alcohol. slurred speech and red watery glassy eyes. The client admits to have a few drinks earlier in the night and indicates the thinks he is in Quincy when he is actually pulled over in Braintree. Once the client exits the vehicle, he is unsteady on his feet and cannot maintain his balance while speaking with the officers, the client also has problems producing his license and registration when asked to do so by the officers. TRAIL VERDICT – NOT GUILTY
The client is operating a motor vehicle and rear ends a vehicle in front of him at a red light. The client is unsteady on his feet and has slurred speech when the officers arrive. The client admits that he was out drinking earlier in the night. The client is administered the standardized field sobriety tests and cannot complete them according to the police officer. The client apologizes several times to the police officer. The officers on scene form the opinion the client is under the influence and arrest the client. All the passengers in the other vehicle were interviewed and indicated to the police they thought the client was under the influence. CASE DISMISSED
Client is stopped by police for traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph. Client is unable to produce his license and registration when asked to by the officer and the officer notes that he smells a strong odor of alcohol coming from the client and the client has slurred speech and red, watery and glassy eyes. The client is asked to step from the vehicle and is unsteady on his feet. The client is asked to recite the alphabet and is unable to get past the letter p. The officer requests the client to hold his foot in the air for thirty seconds but the client can only get to three seconds before stumbling to the left and putting his foot down. The officer then requests that the client walk a straight line with his heels and toes touching one another. The client is unable to do this without stepping off the line and using his arms in a windmill fashion for balance. After failing all three field sobriety tests, the officer forms the opinion that the client is under the influence and places him under arrest. The client takes the breath test with a reading of .11, which is over the legal limit of .08. VERDICT – NOT GUILTY
Defendant is traveling south on the expressway and strikes another vehicle and then flees the scene. The defendant is stopped by the State Police two miles down the highway. The defendant is ordered out of the car and almost falls over according to the state police trooper. The defendant admits to several glasses of wine and cannot say the alphabet when asked to and also cannot perform the balancing tests. The state police trooper observes the defendants the eyes to be bloodshot and glassy and the speech to be slurred. VERDICT – NOT GUILTY
Client is driving on Route 3A and is involved in a minor motor vehicle accident where the client collides with a car at a rotary. The police respond and speak with witnesses who indicate the client was speeding, did not yield to the other vehicle and caused the collision. When police interview the client, client is observed to be unsteady on their feet, have bloodshot and glassy eyes and client admits to consuming alcohol that day. The client fails all field sobriety tests administered according to police officer by not maintaining balance, not counting properly, not following directions and not being cooperative. Once arrested, client becomes argumentative and belligerent towards the police officers. Once back at the police station, the client takes a breath test with reading of .14. TRIAL VERDICT – CASE DISMISSED