Will an out-of-state OUI affect you in Massachusetts?

Most states share information with one another about drunk drivers. However, Massachusetts is one of five states that does not share such information that would normally go through the Driver’s License Compact.

In the event a Massachusetts resident with a state driver’s license ends up with an OUI in another state, then the state would still receive that information. The individual would then need to fight the charges in two states instead of one. Most people end up needing an attorney in both states, and it creates significant problems for the supposed drunk driver involved.

The ramifications follow you to Massachusetts

You may have gotten an OUI in another state, but that does not mean you can forget about it once you get back home. The Registrar in Massachusetts will receive a notification from where the person got an OUI. At that time, the Registrar must revoke the person’s license immediately. The Registrar is unable to reinstate the person’s driver’s license until the state where the driver got the OUI decides to remove the suspension. The OUI state’s Registrar will enter the driver’s information into the Problem Driver Pointer System of the National Driver Register, which means you will not be able to drive anywhere in the United States for the time being.

The path to reinstating your license

Before you can drive again in Massachusetts, you will need to resolve the OUI in the state where it happened. You will have to contend with the state’s laws where the OUI happened instead of the law in Massachusetts. Even after you resolve the matter, Massachusetts will not automatically reinstate your license. There is a process you can go through to get your license back, and it may require you to submit evidence as well as a letter from the other state in question so that you can start driving again.