Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog
On October 19, 2022, EJ, a 28 year old Logistics Analyst, was driving her car on Rt. 3 North in Chelmsford. She went off the road and crashed into a sign and guardrail. The State Police responded. EJ had a restriction on her license that she was supposed to wear corrective lenses (eyeglasses) when driving. She was not wearing her glasses and admitted that to the police. The police cited EJ for violation of a restriction on her license (a criminal offense) and unsafe operation (a civil violation). EJ requested a hearing at Lowell District Court. Three and a half years later in early 2026, EJ received a Notice of a Hearing on an Application for Criminal Complaint from Lowell District Court on this citation. EJ contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover.
There is a little known law (most lawyers are totally unaware of it) that requires the police to file their copy of a criminal citation with the Court within SIX DAYS of the violation. Attorney Lewin immediately went over to Lowell District Court and reviewed the court papers and discovered that the police had delayed three and a half years and did not file the citation at court until 2026. Attorney Lewin prepared a Motion to Dismiss the case.
On June 12, 2026, EJ and Attorney Lewin appeared at Lowell District Court for the hearing. The hearing began and the police officer began to read the police report to the Clerk-Magistrate. As soon as the Police Officer recited the date of the offense as being in 2022, the Clerk-Magistrate (whom Attorney Lewin has known for over 30 years) looked over at Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin held up his Motion To Dismiss the case and was about to hand it to the Clerk-Magistrate, when the Clerk-Magistrate put her hand up and said “no need to”. I’m DISMISSING the application for the crimimal complaint and I am entering a finding of NOT responsible of the civil violation. It was a complete and total win. The Clerk-Magisdtrate did turn and say to EJ: “Wear your glasses when you drive.”
EJ was thrilled with the result and gave Attorney Lewin a big thank you as they left the Courthouse in Lowell. Attorney Lewin explained the following to EJ:
- NO criminal complaint had been issued against EJ.
- EJ was NOT charged with any criminal offense.
- EJ did NOT have to return to court and go before a Judge.
- NO criminal record was created against EJ as a result of this case.
- EJ was found NOT responsible of the civil violation.
- NO action would be taken against EJ’s license as a result of this.
- It was a complete and total win for EJ.
Results like this are common for attorney Robert Lewin. Attorney Lewin became a lawyer in 1971 and was an Assistant District Attorney from 1971 to the very end of 1974. From 1975 to the present Attorney Lewin has limited his practice to the defense of criminal cases and traffic cases. There are very few lawyers in Massachusetts that bring the years of experience and breath of knowledge and simple “know how” to every case they handle and every client they represent.