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What is the difference between a DUI and DWI in Rhode Island?

Criminal Defense Lawyer S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.

What is the difference between DUI and DWI in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island DUI and RI DWI consequences are quite harsh. DUI is short for “Driving Under the Influence” [of drugs or alcohol]. Similarly, DWI stands for “Driving While Intoxicated.” Any driver operating a vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration above the legal limit gets a DWI charge. Drivers younger than 21 years of age with a BAC between 0.02 percent and 0.08 percent face DUI charges.

For more information about laws , penalties and defenses for DUI charges go to the DUI page.

Request your free case evaluation today! (401)861-1155

Client Testimonials

This was my first time ever needing a Lawyer and Josh went above and beyond ensuring that I was well represented as well as walking me through the entire process. The outcome was fantastic and I would recommend Josh for his professionalism and responsiveness.

Truett Stevens

17:45 24 May 20

Josh was very helpful and knowledgeable when it came to my family court case. He was there for us when I needed him and he helped get the desired outcome. I was very pleased with his work and would highly reccomend . Thank you josh!!

elaine siegel

15:41 26 Apr 20

Josh gave me a free consultation over the phone as I was unable to go to his office. He explained the entire process so I fully understood what to expect in and out of court, while making the experience as easy, and painless as possible. He will work directly with the court system to get you the best possible outcome, given your case. For mine, It went exactly as he said it would. I am extremely satisfied with his services!

Mike Alessandro

19:15 06 Mar 20

Josh was hands down the best. He was never misleading with any information and let me know step by step how everything was going to go. All of my questions and concerns were answered by him in a timely manner and he made the whole process as easy, stress free (considering the circumstances) as possible. I would HIGHLY recommend Mr. Macktaz as a DUI lawyer. Thank you again!

Em S

19:49 05 Mar 20

Josh is an incredible asset as your attorney. He truly is a master of his craft and will give you realistic expectations regarding your case. His honesty is truly commendable, keeping you in the loop at all times and on top of your case. Always prompt in his response, Josh is always willing to help ease your concerns regarding your legal issues. Can’t thank Josh enough for his help, the guy is the best and the only attorney I’d recommend to my friends and family!!

Mark V

19:13 05 Mar 20

This was my first time having to seek the services of a lawyer. Josh was friendly, transparent and incredibly informative. He helped me understand the process every step of the way. I'm grateful to have found him and wouldn't think twice about seeking his services again.

Nathan

23:04 02 Feb 20

My experience with Josh was nothing short of great. From day one he was upfront about the process going forward and really helped ground me during what was an exceptionally stressful time. He is easy to get in contact with and always returns communications promptly via email or phone call. I'd highly recommend Josh to anyone who finds themselves in like circumstances, he is a fantastic lawyer who understands that good people make mistakes.

Thomas Briggs

12:21 22 Dec 19

Josh Macktaz, Esq. has a combination of strong analytical and advocacy skills to assist any client. His intelligence, experience, and communicative skills is exactly what you want defending you!! I highly recommend his services.

Ashley Napolitano

17:31 20 Dec 19

Can’t even imagine the mess I would be in with out Joshua’s help. I was guided from the prompt first returned phone call through the entire process. The following day after my event we meet in Newport for a free consultation and he basically told me how things would unfold. In the end I achieved the best possible outcome for me and I owe it to the relationships he has developed and the years of experience that he brings to the table.

david crowley

17:19 19 Dec 19

From the beginning my case had a lot of difficulties and as we continued, new obstacles kept coming up. Josh always took the time to explain everything to me and to make sure I understood what was going on with my case. Every obstacle we encountered, he was always able to work around it and find solutions. He worked very hard to make sure I got a fair result from my case. Overall, Josh is a lawyer that truly cares about his clients and would go the extra mile to help. I strongly believe I wouldn’t have received the results I got without a lawyer like Josh. Highly recommend his services.

Karina G

22:10 05 Dec 19

Great legal defense. Makes you feel comfortable every step of the way. Thank you for everything Josh.

Sam M

15:24 21 Nov 19

Superb layer. Explained everything very clearly for me and helped me greatly to get an aggressive driving charge dismissed. Will recommend him as a lawyer to anyone that is seeking one. Very professional and helpful. You will not go wrong with hiring Josh Macktaz as your lawyer.

Christopher White

15:40 13 Nov 19

Attorney Joshua Macktaz is very professional and personable, emanating energy and confidence in all he does. Informs you every step of the way and easy to reach via email or phone call. Very knowledgeable with the law and how he takes action to get the desired result is truly remarkable. If he says something will happen, you can bet your bottom dollar it will! I Would and Will recommend Attorney J. Macktaz to anyone in need of an excellent trustworthy Attorney.I really hope this review helps someone that is not sure where to turn for help.

Nicholas Silva

18:03 11 Oct 19

Joshua was awesome in every aspect with me and my husband for his DUI case would hands down reccomend him to anyone. He is very knowledgeable and will be there every step of the way to make this process as easy and painless as it can be. Overall we had a great experience.

Erin Barche

14:36 09 Sep 19

Erin Barche

14:36 09 Sep 19

Josh is the best hands down. Excellent customer service. Very respectful. Always on time. You can tell he truly puts 100% into your case to get you the best results. Wouldn’t go to anyone else thank very much Mr. Macktaz I appreciate you

brian car

13:17 06 Sep 19

If I could leave more then 5 stars I absolutely would. No one else I would rather have in my corner

Craig James

12:59 30 Aug 19

Josh is the attorney to call to help you solve your problem. He knows the law and he works for your best interests. I would not bother to call anyone else. If you are facing trouble, call Josh first, don't waste valuable time. I called his office and he called me back right away and consulted with me. You will not go wrong by hiring this attorney. I certainly did not. I received a very favorable outcome due to Josh's diligent work. Definitely the best out there !

Jennifer Chandler

15:32 29 Aug 19

Mr. Macktaz handled my case in a prompt and professional manor with the necessary legal experience that achieved a positive and beneficial result.

Bryan Stewart

00:35 21 Aug 19

I chose Josh because he seemed experienced and reputable. I was right. Josh knew the ins and outs of my situation, and he provided comforting wisdom every step of the way. When all was said and done, he did exactly what he said he would do, and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Jon Doe

19:12 31 Jul 19

Excellent attorney. Did exactly what he said he would and didn't promise anything he couldn't. Very knowledgeable and professional.

Seth Med

15:31 31 Jul 19

Joshua Macktaz is a very good very professional lawyer. Throughout me case he handled it seriously and kept me in the loop even when I was not present in the court room. Joshua represented me over a year long trial, and he never gave me a issue and in the end he got me a great result. All around I seriously recommend Joshua as a lawyer.

Caleb Butler

18:43 30 Jul 19

Josh was very professional. Took time to answer all my questions in a timely fashion. Made me feel at ease about the situation. Great lawyer

Brandon Nantais

10:06 07 May 19

Mr. Macktaz is an outstanding lawyer. He goes above and beyond for his clients making sure they get the best possible outcome there is! He believes good people sometimes make bad mistakes. I would highly reccommend his services. He will be with you every step of the way.

Haley Nims

17:00 05 May 19

Josh Macktaz is is an excellent attorney who really goes above and beyond for his client.I found him to be very trustworthy and intelligent. I had a technical probation violation. I needed a good lawyer for representation and Josh came highly recommended. He was very honest, respectful and made you feel at ease throughout the whole process. I would highly recommend him to family & friends.Thank You Josh & God Bless -Sam

Sam Wlt

18:21 01 May 19

Josh is committed to following through with his clients and ensuring they are happy. He is not only thorough but he is very responsive and cares. I appreciated his help and he adequately explained the process.

Aly Starr

02:27 25 Feb 19

My Experience with Josh representing me was beyond what I could have hoped for. Josh explained his thoughts and exceptions on my case & followed through to receive the best outcome.. Cannot thank you enough Josh!

Troy McGann

13:12 15 Jan 19

I highly recommend the services of Josh Macktaz. He was responsive, efficient and very realistic about my case and the associated penalties. My legal costs were exactly as he suggested on our first call (which were fair). He is very knowledgeable of the Rhode Island law and has very strong contacts at the traffic tribunal. Related, he handled minor hearings without me which saved me money and travel time. He did the best possible job for a guy in my situation. Anyone that has a drunk driving charge in RI that does not consider Josh Macktaz is risking their future and wasting their dollars.

Chad M

23:10 13 Jan 19

My experience with Josh was beyond positive. If I could rate higher than five stars I would. Through out my entire process he was professional, straightforward, knowledgeable and understanding. It did not take long after meeting him I knew I needed him to represent me. Although my road was long Josh stuck with me every step of the way. There is no doubt in my mind without him I would not have been able to get the best possible outcome in my case. For that my family and I are forever grateful to him. He truly is a master of his craft and a fighter through and through. If you need representation look no further " This is the Man you want In your corner."

Daniel James

14:08 22 Dec 18

I hired Joshua Mactaz to represent me. He did an amazing job. He is very knowledgeable, hard worker and will do anything for you. I would recommend him to anyone and I would certainly have him represent me again.

Susan DeFedele

06:41 14 Dec 18

We always dealt with Josh Macktaz directly. He walked us through every step of the process and answered all our questions. His representation for us in the court room was handled professionally and we are extremely happy with the outcome.

Cheryl DeFeo

00:24 14 Dec 18

Amazing lawyer. Josh explained every step to resolving my issue and got me the best possible outcome for my case. He is very to the point and will fight to defend his clients in their toughest times. If you find yourself in trouble in Rhode Island, there is no one I would recommend more than Josh!

James McKeown

04:46 06 Oct 18

Prior to contacting Joshua I was a mess. He put me at ease during my free consultation and I decided he was the right person to represent me on the spot. He delivered on everything he said he would.

Anthony Mayer

19:38 14 Sep 18

Joshua was great he dealt with my case with effectivness and in a very timely manner. He call me when he was telling me that he was going 2 change or do something that would benefit my case I appreciate the professionalism he gave and showed I would highly recommend using his services

Chris Baccelli

19:59 12 Sep 18

After meeting with several lawyers I chose Mr. Macktaz to represent me. His professionalism and positive attitude helped ease the stress of a difficult situation. Josh provided a detailed timeline of the court process and was clear on what my expectations should be. He was prompt in returning my calls and answered any questions or concerns that I had. I would recommend Josh to anyone in need of representation as he went above and beyond in securing the best possible outcome for my case.

Paul DiLorenzo

04:31 14 Aug 18

With Joshua Macktaz, Professional... he helped in my case and I thank him for his help and I truly recommend him for any case, one of the best in the business

jose carrion

23:23 11 Aug 18

Mr. Macktaz was very professional and helped me with my legal issues swiftly and very effectively. Who knew what to do and every steps to take. Highly recommended, one of the best in the business.

Uodam Sann

15:08 10 Aug 18

I will start off by saying I knew nothing about the criminal or traffic court system until March 2018. I made a choice to have one too many and was arrested (DUI). Dealing with the embarrassment of an arrest and fear of losing my job, I "google searched for a DUI lawyer" and Josh Macktaz name appeared. Although apprehensive about using a a Google Review to determine my future, I made the call. This is my experience... 1) Mr. Macktaz made time to meet me the day I outreached him. (free consultation)2) During our initial meeting Macktaz outlined in detail what I had ahead of me; including court dates and car insurance details.3) Mr. Macktaz was at every court appearance and explained what was going to happen in court and the potential outcome.4) He was confident in what the outcome would be... and he was right!In closing... would I retain Mr. Macktaz if I ever needed criminal representation again? Yes, he would be my first phone call. He continually follows up with his clients. I never felt the need to outreach Mr. Macktaz since he called or emailed first!

Paul

22:15 03 Jul 18

Professional, experienced and extremely knowledgeable! Josh took the time to answer all my questions, and was always very responsive. He was able to put my mind at ease. He was able to get my charges dismissed and my case expunged. Best Attorney in RI!!!

LORENZO CAIANI

15:56 09 May 18

Josh was very professional and extremely knowledgeable of my situation. He took the time to meet with me face to face multiple times to gather all the facts so he could develop the best plan possible. After collecting the facts he sat me down and he discussed all the options I had and why certain options may or may not be available in my situation. During this very difficult time, I at least felt comfortable that I received the best possible outcome and Josh is the reason why. A true professional through and through.

Neal Manaskie

19:28 23 Apr 18

For someone who is totally new to the court system Josh took the time to sit and explain options,situations and solutions before he even a dollar was given. He made you feel protected within the court system, and I would recommend him to anyone looking for good help. He was a total down to earth and knowledgeable person someone you'd want on your side. Any help or questions I had were solved within hours by email and he kept connected with me throughout the whole process. Me and my whole family are greatful for the help! Thanks Josh !

Dylan Nunez

02:54 22 Mar 18

Josh is unlike any attorney I've ever had contact with: and I have worked with and for several. Customer service is a key part of the great service he personally delivered. It is with great confidence that I am able to refer him. He brought me the best results possible. He also returned every single phone call. Thanks Josh!

Kathleen Whitmarsh

17:07 13 Mar 18

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Meet S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.

What is the difference between a DUI and DWI in Rhode Island?

What is the difference between DUI and DWI in Rhode Island?

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