In the state of Massachusetts, you could be arrested for operating under the influence (OUI) if your abilities have been impaired by the effects of either alcohol or drugs, or in some cases, both. As you may know, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher. What you may not know, however, is that you could also be arrested for OUI if you operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of certain prescription medications or other illicit drugs, like marijuana.
The penalties for alcohol and drug-related OUI offenses are typically the same, depending on the number of times you have been convicted of OUI or DUI in the past. Some of these penalties can include:
First OUI Offense:
- Up to 2 ½ years of imprisonment
- Between $500 and $5,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension for 1 year
Second OUI Offense:
- Up to 30 days of imprisonment
- Between $600 and $10,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension for 2 years
Third OUI Offense:
- Between 150 days and 5 years of imprisonment
- Between $1,000 and $15,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension for 8 years
Fourth OUI Offense:
- Between 1 and 5 years of imprisonment
- Between $5,000 and $25,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension for 10 years
Fifth OUI Offense:
- Between 2 and 5 years of imprisonment
- Between $20,000 and $50,000 in fines
- Lifetime driver's license suspension
If you have been arrested for operating under the influence of drugs, it is imperative that you move quickly to discuss your options with a Quincy criminal defense lawyer at Flanagan & Associates. We are available to our clients 24/7, so you can trust that we will be able to provide you with the aggressive representation that you deserve when you need it most. Having formerly worked as a private investigator, our lead attorney knows what it takes to build an effective legal strategy against your OUI charges.
Call now to schedule your free case evaluation. We are ready to fight for you!