OUI Lawyers in Worcester

Avoid Pleading Guilty — Contact (508) 570-3037 for Expert Legal Assistance in Middlesex and Hampden Counties

Massachusetts law refers to drunk driving as OUI, but it is more commonly referred to as DUI. If you have been arrested for operating under the influence (OUI), you have a decision to make. Should you plead guilty, or should you fight the charges? People often mistakenly assume that pleading guilty is the quickest, easiest way to make the problem go away. However, in Massachusetts, an OUI/DUI conviction will remain on your record forever, which is why you should consider hiring our skilled Worcester County OUI attorneys.

Our Comprehensive OUI Legal Services Include:

• Ambien OUI
• BAC tests
• CDL OUI
• Child endangerment DUI
• Field sobriety tests
• First-offense OUI/24D programs
• Underage OUI
• Out-of-state DUI charges

Before you plead guilty, consult with our OUI attorneys in Worcester County. We can be reached at (508) 570-3037.

What Is an OUI?

You have the right to contest OUI charges. Although field sobriety tests are still employed extensively, the court system has to consider scientific evidence from breathalyzers or blood tests in order to determine the severity of a charge. This means that a person may pass a field sobriety test but still be convicted for being above the legal limit based on blood alcohol level.

In the state of Massachusetts, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% is generally considered grounds for arrest. However, the percentages can be more stringent depending upon the vehicle being driven and the age of the driver. Commercial vehicle operators are considered intoxicated if they have 0.04% or higher BAC, and drivers under the age of 21 can be arrested for as low as 0.02% BAC. The offense of drunk driving is not as straightforward as might be assumed, and it is important that all drivers have the necessary knowledge.

At the simplest level, drunk driving for private citizens in Massachusetts becomes a legal offense when three factors are present. These include:

• The operation of a motor vehicle, including motorcycles, scooters, tractors, ATVs, and even ride-on lawn mowers
• The vehicle is being driven on a public roadway. Private lands such as driveways and backyards would not be applicable to the commission of an offense, but public parking lots, dirt roads designated for public access, and commercially owned access roads are considered public.
• The driver’s BAC is 0.08% or higher or the driver exhibits impairment. This factor can come under varying scrutiny, depending upon the above-mentioned considerations for BAC, but in Massachusetts, the 0.08% mark is generally used as the legal definition of intoxication.

The Value of OUI Lawyers: License Suspension & OUI Penalties

If you have been charged with a first OUI offense, our skilled lawyers may be able to get your license back for you within a week by applying for a hardship license. Our lawyers will gather the necessary documents and represent you at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) hearing.

The penalties for conviction of a first OUI offense may include:

• Fines from $500 to $5,000
• Up to two and a half years in prison
• License suspension of up to one year

The penalties for multiple OUI convictions are much harsher. People with multiple OUI charges usually have to go to trial, which is a good reason to hire one of our lawyers. Under Melanie’s Law, the state imposes stiffer penalties for refusing a Breathalyzer test and operating under the influence. Anyone charged with multiple OUI offenses will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle.