Your first DUI court appearance in Massachusetts, as in any other state, is the arraignment. This is simply a time to read the charges against you and determine how you would like to plead in your case: Guilty or Not Guilty. Typically, the court will automatically enter a Not Guilty plea on the arraignment date.

Your first DUI conviction (or OUI conviction in Massachusetts) is most likely considered a misdemeanor. This is because both first and second offenses are categorized as misdemeanors in Massachusetts unless serious circumstances such as death and severe injuries are involved.  Only conviction for a 3rd and subsequent OUI will always result in a felony on

It can be frightening to get charged with a first offense DUI in Massachusetts (where it’s locally termed “Operating Under the Influence” or OUI). After all, a drunk driving charge on your record can affect employment opportunities, your driver’s license, and a whole lot more in your personal life. It’s common to wonder how long

Out-of-state residents who are charged with OUI in Mass will have to navigate a few unique legal scenarios. This is partially because of the strict nature of the local OUI laws in Massachusetts—the state with the most potential jail time for first offenders—but also because of how Massachusetts interacts with other states. Let’s break it

From license suspensions to courtroom evidence, breath test results can have a massive impact on the outcome of OUI charges in Massachusetts. Generally speaking, there are three possible results of a breathalyzer test as pertains to the court: a failed test, a passed test, and a refused test.

Massachusetts OUI law is very clear on the status of third offenses. Unlike first and second offenses, there is no possible chance of receiving a lenient alternative 24D disposition—even if your first or second convictions are decades old, out of state, or were resolved with a CWOF (Continuance Without a Finding).

It’s well-known that Massachusetts OUI penalties already stand among the tougher sets of consequences in the nation, with the highest maximum potential jail time for first offenders among all U.S. states.  The penalties for a first offense OUI in Massachusetts could potentially include: