DUI Lawyer in Braintree, MA

A DUI charge in Massachusetts, called an OUI, carries consequences that can follow you for years. If you were stopped in or around Braintree and are now facing a charge under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24, the decisions you make in the next few days matter.

Working with a DUI lawyer in Braintree, MA, early in the process gives you the best opportunity to understand your options and protect your license, your record, and your livelihood.

What the Charge Covers

Massachusetts law does not limit OUI to alcohol. Under § 24, you can be charged if you were operating on a public way with a BAC of .08 or higher, or if you were under the influence of marijuana, narcotics, depressants, or stimulants.

Drivers under 21 face a much stricter threshold, as Massachusetts suspends a young driver’s license when their BAC reaches .02 or higher after a stop. CDL holders face a separate set of consequences: A commercial license can be disqualified even when the offense happened in a personal vehicle, and CDL suspensions do not qualify for hardship hearings at the RMV.

OUI Penalties

A first OUI offense under § 24 carries up to 2.5 years in jail and fines between $500 and $5,000, plus additional statutory assessments. That is the criminal exposure. The license side runs separately.

Refusing the breathalyzer does not make things simpler. Massachusetts is an implied consent state, and refusal triggers an automatic administrative suspension of 180 days for a first offense, which is separate from whatever the court does. If you have a prior OUI or prior program history, that refusal suspension jumps to three years. With two qualifying priors, it becomes five.

A second OUI brings a mandatory minimum of 30 days actually served, with a criminal range of $600 to $10,000. A third offense carries a 150-day mandatory minimum and potential state prison exposure. Prior OUI history affects your suspension length, your eligibility for a hardship license, and whether an ignition interlock device is required.

Massachusetts offers a first-offender disposition under § 24D, which allows eligible defendants to enter a driver alcohol education program in exchange for a probationary outcome. The license suspension under 24D is reduced to 45 to 90 days, and defendants may immediately apply to the RMV for a hardship license, a restricted license that typically allows driving within a 12-hour window, seven days a week.

Reach Out to Riccio Law Today

We represent clients facing OUI charges throughout the South Shore and Greater Boston. As your DUI lawyer in Braintree, MA, we take the time to go through the details of your stop, the test results or refusal, and your prior record before advising on how to move forward. No pressure, no shortcuts.

The sooner you reach out, the more options remain open. Call Riccio Law at (617) 404-8878 or submit a confidential message through our contact form to schedule a consultation.