Do You Lose Your License Immediately After a DUI in Massachusetts?

Do You Lose Your License Immediately After a DUI in Massachusetts?

Driving under the influence (DUI), also known as operating under the influence (OUI) in Massachusetts, comes with severe consequences. One repercussion is the suspension of your driver’s license. Do you lose your license immediately after a DUI in Massachusetts? The answer might surprise you. If you want to learn more about the consequences of a…

What Are First Offense OUI Penalties in Massachusetts?

What Are First Offense OUI Penalties in Massachusetts?

While you may think that a first-time operating under the influence (OUI) offense is not too serious, it can still have long-term consequences for you. A first-time OUI offender can face severe legal repercussions, including hefty fines, suspension of their driving license, and the possibility of probation. Like most states, Massachusetts has a no-tolerance policy…

Massachusetts OUI and Out-of-State Offenses

Massachusetts OUI and Out-of-State Offenses

Being convicted of Operating Under the Influence (OUI) can have serious consequences, not just within the state where it happened but also across state borders. For Massachusetts residents facing OUI charges in other states or out-of-state individuals charged with OUI in Massachusetts, everyone needs to understand the implications of these charges.  Massachusetts Residents with Out-of-State…

Understanding the Consequences of OUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury in Massachusetts

Understanding the Consequences of OUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury in Massachusetts

Operating under the influence (OUI) significantly affects your driving record, insurance premiums, and life. However, when you cause an accident as a result of an OUI, then there are other legal ramifications and consequences to consider. If your OUI resulted in an accident, here are a few points to know about potential issues with your…

Commonwealth v. Hallinan: SJC Decision
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Commonwealth v. Hallinan: SJC Decision

On April 26, 2023, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) rendered a critical decision impacting thousands of individuals in Massachusetts whose operating under the influence (OUI) convictions were based upon the use of faulty breath test results. The statewide Ananias litigation began in 2015, challenging the scientific reliability of breath test machines throughout Massachusetts. The decision…

What You Need to Know About Field Sobriety Tests in Massachusetts

What You Need to Know About Field Sobriety Tests in Massachusetts

When a law enforcement officer pulls over a driver for operating under the influence (OUI), a field sobriety test may take place. These roadside assessments occur when the officer reasonably suspects the driver is under the influence. Learn about the basics of field sobriety tests in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts so that you can become…

Can I Be Charged with an OUI in Massachusetts for Driving While Under the Influence of Marijuana?

Can I Be Charged with an OUI in Massachusetts for Driving While Under the Influence of Marijuana?

The state of Massachusetts was one of the first to legalize possession and use of recreational marijuana. In fact, people can have up to 10 ounces in their possession without any penalty. However, it remains illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of Marijuana. In Massachusetts, operating while impaired, which is called an OUI,…

Massachusetts’ Highest Court Heard Arguments in an Influential Breathalyzer Case Which Could Affect OUI Charges Across the State

Massachusetts’ Highest Court Heard Arguments in an Influential Breathalyzer Case Which Could Affect OUI Charges Across the State

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts heard arguments on December 8th of 2022 in Commonwealth v. Lindsay A. Hallinan. Hallinan, facing OUI charges back in 2013, “admitted to sufficient facts” in a Salem District Court. In doing so Hallinan agreed that the prosecution had sufficient evidence to prove Hallinan’s guilt. In essence, admitting to sufficient…

Update on Glover: Massachusetts Upholds Reasonable Suspicion in Traffic Stop

Update on Glover: Massachusetts Upholds Reasonable Suspicion in Traffic Stop

On June 8, 2020 the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued a decision that upholds the SJC’sprevious ruling that, absent information that the driver is not the owner, police have reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle registered to an owner who does not have a valid driver’s license. This new decision also aligns with the recent Supreme…

Lange v. California: “Hot Pursuit” and the 4th Amendment

Lange v. California: “Hot Pursuit” and the 4th Amendment

On June 22, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its decision in Lange v. California, where the Court examined the Fourth Amendment and the so-called “hot pursuit” doctrine. Specifically, the Supreme Court was asked whether a police officer’s pursuit of a person who has committed a misdemeanor categorically qualifies as an exigent…