Many people who get pulled over and arrested for operating under the influence (OUI) in Massachusetts didn’t realize that they had had too much to drink. In fact, some people who get arrested for an OUI may have medical conditions that explain why they failed a chemical breath test or may be the victims of an improperly calibrated testing unit that produces unreliable results.
Regardless of what circumstances led to your arrest for an alleged OUI offense, you will have to worry about fines and even jail time depending on your criminal history and driving record. An OUI defense will also have an impact on your driving privileges.
Officers typically seize or suspend a license at the time of an arrest
Once an officer has conducted a field sobriety test or chemical breath test and believes that they have grounds to arrest you for an OUI offense, they might retain your license as a way of preventing you from driving until the courts hear your case.
An immediate administrative suspension of your license until you go to court for your charges is common in OUI cases. If the officer didn’t retain or suspend your license, the judge who formally charges you likely will. In some situations, drivers facing hardship because of the loss of their license may be able to secure a temporary license.
Those convicted of an OU I will face a suspension as well
Whether you get convicted or plead guilty to an OUI offense, you will likely have to deal with a post-conviction suspension of your license. Previous arrests and aggravating factors at the time of your arrest can influence how long your suspension lasts for.
Those with previous offenses may require an ignition interlock device
Even after the suspension of your license, you may not regain full driving privileges right away. In fact, Massachusetts often requires that drivers with a previous OUI offense on their record to install an ignition interlock device (IID) as part of the process of regaining their license, which can be both embarrassing and expensive.
Defending yourself against charges can protect your license and reduce the other social and criminal consequences you face as a result of an alleged impaired driving incident.