IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DUI by Actor Rip Torn Illustrates Drunk Driving Legal Issues

Brockton MA -  October 27, 2004 -  

The recent drunk driving arrest of Actor Rip Torn illustrates a number of relevant facts relating to a DUI defense. Prominent drunk driving attorney Russell Matson, of Brockton, MA comments that Torn's behavior displayed on videotape is likely to damage his defense.

Capture in on a police booking video is Torn acting abusive to the police officers, and apparently staggering while being booked and processed in the police station. "I strongly advise anyone arrested on a DUI or other charge to be polite to the officers at all times", says Matson. "In every case, you should politely ask to speak with a lawyer, and not answer any questions other than your name and address." Matson went on to add, "Belligerent and uncooperative behavior makes trying a case much more difficult, and makes juries far less inclined to empathize with the defendant."

Surprisingly to many people, Attorney Matson typically finds police booking videos to be helpful to the defense. He explains "In the vast majority of cases I've taken to trial where videotaped evidence of the booking process was obtained,  the tape has shown my client to be calm, cooperative, polite, and does not indicate any physical impairment." Adds Matson, "Such visual evidence is very powerful, and if the defendant doesn't display any serious coordination problems, it's much easier for a jury to understand and believe that he or she was not impaired, if other prosecution evidence is in dispute."

For more information about the consequences or defense of DUI cases, call Russell Matson at (781)380-7730, or refer to his web site, madrunk.pdxids.com