DUI, DWI, OVI?
DUI stands for driving under the influence. Some states use the term DWI, driving while intoxicated, instead of DUI. (DWAI, OVI, OWI) Their meanings are identical: they refer to a person driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
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Many other non-judicial penalties will inevitably follow an admission to sufficient facts plea, guilty plea, or conviction. These can include increased insurance cost (or cancellation of coverage), inability to rent cars, job barriers, possible loss of profession credentials or certifications, etc. These non-judicial or economic penalties are not addressed in this Summary.An OUI conviction plea of "guilty" or admission to sufficient facts will be a permanent part of your driving record. It does not "come off" your record after 5 years…it never comes off your record. Moreover, a conviction, guilty plea or admission to sufficient facts plea is reported to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, which in turn, reports it to the National Driver`s License Registry. These computer records are accessible to driver`s licensing agencies nationwide.Any non-resident driver`s home state driver`s license agency (RMV, DMV, DPS, etc.) will in all likelihood receive a notice from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles if any license suspension or case disposition (conviction or admission to sufficient facts) occurs in Massachusetts and the non-resident license is involved. In almost all cases an admission to sufficient facts plea, guilty plea or guilty verdict in a criminal case for OUI in the state of Massachusetts will cause a suspension to occur in the non-resident`s home state. A "not guilty" or other non-OUI disposition of the case will prevent such consequences.BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT
Massachusetts recently became a "per se" state. This means that if your breath or blood are tested and the result is .08 or above, you will be found guilty if and only if the judge or jury believes the test was conducted properly and the reading was accurate. There are many reasons why the test may not be used against you. This may be as a result of poor record keeping by the police, machine malfunction or an improperly administered test. The are also medical and environmental reasons why the test may be . It is important to get legal advise from a lawyer who specializes in drunk driving defense before admitting to anything. SUBSEQUENT OFFENDER STATUS "Repeat offender" status for OUI cases is determined in Massachusetts based upon a lifetime "lookback" period. This status is used for purposes of increased mandatory minimum punishment. The last sheet of this summary is a GRID which sets out in a handy chart the MANDATORY MINIMUM punishment for OUI cases.A bad record can come back to haunt a person facing a current OUI charge. Remember that a judge can review your ENTIRE record for the purposes of:increasing your punishment (up to the maximum penalties set by law) over that which he/she would give another person with no prior record;
allowing the prosecutor (in some instances, after notice and a pre-trial hearing) to introduce evidence of prior instances where you were convicted of crimes, although it is extremely unlikely that a prior OUI charge will be used. The prosecutor may attempt to bring in evidence from any case, even those older than 5 years. This type of evidence can be used as "impeachment" evidence if and only if the accused takes the stand in his/her own defense. Use of prior convictions especially prior OUI convictions is extremely rare:
SPECIAL NOTE FOR ANY CONVICTION OF OUI, PLEA OF GUILTY OR ADMISSION TO SUFFICIENT FACTS:
The sentencing court has broad powers at sentencing insofar as whether to probation conditions. Furthermore, if probation is granted ( in lieu of jail time), the conditions of probation can be extremely onerous and restrictive. Moreover, all jurisdictions charge monthly "supervision" fees so that the person pays for his/her probationary sentence. The length of probation is optional with the judge.
allowing the prosecutor (in some instances, after notice and a pre-trial hearing) to introduce evidence of prior instances where you were convicted of crimes, although it is extremely unlikely that a prior OUI charge will be used. The prosecutor may attempt to bring in evidence from any case, even those older than 5 years. This type of evidence can be used as "impeachment" evidence if and only if the accused takes the stand in his/her own defense. Use of prior convictions especially prior OUI convictions is extremely rare:
SPECIAL NOTE FOR ANY CONVICTION OF OUI, PLEA OF GUILTY OR ADMISSION TO SUFFICIENT FACTS:
The sentencing court has broad powers at sentencing insofar as whether to probation conditions. Furthermore, if probation is granted ( in lieu of jail time), the conditions of probation can be extremely onerous and restrictive. Moreover, all jurisdictions charge monthly "supervision" fees so that the person pays for his/her probationary sentence. The length of probation is optional with the judge.
PENALTIESAlert!!! Melanie’s Law took effect on October 28. It increased refusal periods, increased waiting periods for hardship licenses and requires an ignition interlock device for reinstatement for ALL SUBSEQUENT OFFENDERS. Changes are outlined below in red.
All license losses on a case are added to each other
If you are found not guilty or the case is dismissed, there is a presumption that your license will be reinstated for the rest of the refusal suspension period
WARNING. The following penalties list license losses for each offense. In some cases, an experienced OUI/DWI/DUI lawyer may be successful in reducing the offense level you are charged with (such as a third offense reduced to a second offense). Regardless of the reduction or the sentence, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will suspend your license based upon their records, which may include out of state offenses.FIRST OFFENSE
ADULT
All license losses on a case are added to each other
If you are found not guilty or the case is dismissed, there is a presumption that your license will be reinstated for the rest of the refusal suspension period
WARNING. The following penalties list license losses for each offense. In some cases, an experienced OUI/DWI/DUI lawyer may be successful in reducing the offense level you are charged with (such as a third offense reduced to a second offense). Regardless of the reduction or the sentence, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will suspend your license based upon their records, which may include out of state offenses.FIRST OFFENSE
ADULT
- Incarceration: Not more than 2 ½ years House of Correction
- Fine: $500-$5,000
- License suspended for 1 year, work/education hardship considered in 6 months, general hardship in 6 months
- 1 year Probation with mandatory participation in alcohol-drug education program paid for by the client
- License suspended for 45 to 90 days (210 days for drivers under age 21) A hardship license is usually available upon completion of an intake for the first offenders program. This sentence is also available for 2nd offenses if there is only 1 other prior offense and the conviction or plea on that offense occurred more than 10 years prior to the date of the arrest
- The minimum loss is 210 days, run on/after the above suspensions. The 2nd 180 day suspension is waived if the defendant enters the program. Net result is 390 days if they enter a program.
- The operator can get the first 180 days cleared if they get an order from the court. They still must serve the 2nd 180 days unless they enter a program.
- Incarceration: Not less than 60 days (30 day mandatory), not more then 2 ½ years
- Fine: $600-$10,000
- License suspended for 2 years, work/education hardship considered in 1 year, general hardship in 18 months
- A condition of any hardship license is the installation of an ignition interlock device for at least 2 years. The device requires that the operator have a breath alcohol level of less than .02 for the car to start.
- 2 years probation
- 14 day confined treatment program paid for by the defendant
- License suspended for two years, work/education hardship considered in 1 year, general hardship in 18 months
- A condition of any hardship license is the installation of an ignition interlock device for at least 2 years. The device requires that the operator have a breath alcohol level of less than .02 for the car to start.
- Incarceration: Not less than 180 days (150 day mandatory), not more than 5 years State Prison (Felony status)
- May be served in a correctional facility treatment programs
- Fine $1,000-$15,000
- License suspended for 8 years, work/education hardship considered in 2 years, general hardship in 4 years
- A condition of any hardship license is the installation of an ignition interlock device for at least the hardship period. The device requires that the operator have a breath alcohol level of less than .02 for the car to start.
- Incarceration: Not less than 2 years (1 year Minimum Mandatory), not more than 5 years (Felony status)
- Fine $1,500-$25,000
- License suspended for 10 years, work/education hardship considered in 5 years, general hardship in 8 years
- A condition of any hardship license is the installation of an ignition interlock device for at least the hardship period. The device requires that the operator have a breath alcohol level of less than .02 for the car to start.
- Incarceration: Not less than 2 ½ years (24 mos. Minimum Mandatory), not more than 5 years (Felony Status)
- Fine $2,00-$50,000
- License for life, no possibility of hardship
- First Offense $500.00
- Second Offense $700.00
- Third Offense $1,200.00
MASSACHUSETTS COURTS:
Barnstable County:
1. Barnstable District Court (508) 362-25112. Falmouth District Court (508) 495-1500
3. Orleans District Court (508) 255-4700
Berkshire County:
1. Northern Berkshire District Court (413) 663-53392. Pittsfield District Court (413) 499-0558 (413) 442-5468 (413) 443-5840
3. Southern Berkshire District Court (413) 528-3520
Bristol County:
1. Attleboro District Court (508) 222-59002. Fall River District Court (508) 679-8161
3. New Bedford District Court (508) 999-9700
4. Taunton District Court (508) 824-4032
Dukes County:
1. Edgartown District Court (508) 627-3751Essex County:
1. Gloucester District Court (978)283-26202. Haverhill District Court (978)373-4151
3. Ipswich District Court (978) 356-2681
4. Lawrence District Court (978) 687-7184
5. Lynn District Court- (781) 598-5200
6. Newburyport District Court (978) 462-2652
7. Peabody District Court (978) 532-3100
8. Salem District Court (978) 744-1167
Franklin County:
1. Greenfield District Court (413) 774-55332. Orange District Court (978) 544-8277
Hampden County:
1.Chicopee District Court (413) 598-00992. Holyoke District Court (413) 538-9710
3. Palmer District Court (413) 283-8916
4. Springfield District Court (413) 748-8600
5. Westfield District Court (413) 568-8946
Hampshire County:
1. Northampton District Court (413) 584-74002. Ware District Court (413) 967-7911
Middlesex County:
1. Ayer District Court (978) 772-2100
2. Cambridge District Court (617) 494-4374
3. Concord District Court (978) 369-0500
4. Framingham District Court (508) 875-7461
5. Lowell District Court (978) 459-4101
6. Malden District Court (781) 322-7500
7. Marlborough District Court (508) 485-3700
8. Natick District Court (508) 653-4332
9. Somerville District Court (617) 666-8000
10. Waltham District Court (781) 894-4500
11. Woburn District Court (781) 935-4000
Nantucket County:
1. Nantucket District Court (508) 228-0460Norfolk County:
1. Brookline District Court (617) 232-46602. Dedham District Court (781) 329-4777
3. Milford District Court (508) 473-1260
4. Quincy District Court (617) 417-1650
5. Stoughton District Court (781) 344-2131
6. Wrentham District Court (508) 384-3106
Plymouth County:
1. Brockton District Court (508) 587-80002. Hingham District Court (781) 749-7000
3. Plymouth District Court (508) 747-0500
4. Wareham District Court (508) 295-8300
Suffolk County:
1. Boston Municipal Court Department (617) 725-8389 (617) 782-65213. Charlestown District Court (617) 242-5400
4. Chelsea District Court (617) 252-0763
5. Dorchester District Court (617) 288-9500
6. East Boston District Court (617) 569-7550
7. Roxbury District Court (617) 427-7000
8. South Boston District Court (617)268-9292
9. West Roxbury District Court (617) 971-1200
Worcester County:
1. Clinton District Court (978) 368-78112. Dudley District Court (508) 943-7123
3.East Brookfield District Court (508) 885-6305
4. Fitchburg District Court (978) 345-2111
5. Gardner District Court (978) 632-2373
6. Leominster District Court (978) 537-3722
7. Milford District Court (508) 473-1260
8. Orange District Court (978) 544-8277
9. Uxbridge District Court (508) 278-2454
10. Westborough District Court (508) 366-8266
11. Winchendon District Court (978) 297-0156 (508)757-8350
12. Worcester District Court (508) 792-0800
MA OUI / DUI Banner Sites
MA OUI / DUI City Links
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Network of DUI/ DWI lawyers who represent persons charged with drunk driving offenses.
Drunk driving, DUI, DWI and Drunk Driving Defense are common words in our every day speech, which should warn us that these time-consuming and expensive offenses are becoming a growing problem in the US. Drunk Driving Lawyers will tell you that the term drunk driving has many official names including, DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants), OMVI (Operating Motor Vehicle Intoxicated), and OUI (Operation Under the Influence), and other acronyms OWI, DUIL, DWUI
Drunk driving can cause:
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