DUI Lawyer in Dedham, MA

A lot of people arrested for OUI in Massachusetts focus entirely on the criminal charge. That makes sense, but the hours right after the arrest matter just as much as anything that happens in court. If you need a DUI lawyer in Dedham, MA, understanding that early window is where we start.

Two Separate Clocks Start Running After an OUI Arrest

After an OUI arrest in Massachusetts, two tracks begin at the same time. One is the criminal case moving through the court system. The other is an administrative action against your driver’s license through the RMV, and it starts immediately, regardless of how the criminal case resolves.

If you took the breath test and blew .08 or above, your license faces a suspension tied to that result. If you refused, a separate suspension applies under Massachusetts’ implied consent law. The two tracks have different timelines and different procedures, and missing a step on either one can cost you options.

On the criminal side, your first appearance is the arraignment, where charges are formally read, and bail conditions may be set. Getting a DUI lawyer in Dedham, MA, involved before or right after that hearing matters. Discovery starts there, and early movement affects what evidence gets preserved.

The Refusal Decision Has Consequences of Its Own

Refusing the breathalyzer in Massachusetts does not protect you the way some drivers assume. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24, a first refusal triggers a 180-day administrative license suspension, separate from anything the court imposes, and running whether you are ultimately convicted or not.

That calculation changes sharply with prior history. A refusal with one prior qualifying offense brings a three-year suspension. Two priors push it to five years. Three or more means a lifetime suspension on the administrative side alone.

This is why refusal creates its own legal problem, independent of the OUI charge itself. A DUI lawyer in Dedham, MA, who handles these cases looks at both the criminal exposure and the license consequences together.

What to Expect in Your First Conversation With Us

When you reach out to Riccio Law, we start by listening: the stop, what the officer said, whether you did field tests, what you decided about the breath test, and your prior record, if any. That conversation shapes everything.

A first offense with no refusal and a BAC just over .08 looks different from a case involving a refusal, a second offense, or aggravating factors. The § 24D first-offender program may be available in one scenario and off the table in another. We also review the police report and the circumstances of the stop early because not every stop holds up legally, and not every test result is as solid as it appears.

Call Riccio Law at (617) 404-8878 or reach us through our contact form. The earlier you get counsel involved, the more options stay open.