Massachusetts OUI Third Offense

If you have recently been charged with operating under the influence in Massachusetts and you have 2 prior OUI convictions, contact a qualified OUI defense attorney immediately. A third offense OUI is a very serious criminal charge. In fact, it’s now considered a felony. You need an experienced attorney who specializes in this complex area of law to fight for you in court.

Penalties you can expect to face for a third offense OUI

You will be going to jail upon conviction. The minimum time is 150 days, but you will be sentenced between 180 days and up to 5 years in a state prison. A third OUI offense is also very expensive as you’ll face a fine of at least $1,000. It could potentially be as high as $15,000 depending on the facts surrounding your case.

At this point, the Registry of Motor Vehicles will seize your vehicle or vehicles that you drive only to resell them. They will also take away your driver’s license for 8 years. After a 2-year waiting period, you can apply for a hardship license. If you refused to submit to a chemical test (blood, breath or urine), you have also violated the state’s Implied Consent Law. The penalty for this will be a 5-year wait before you can apply for a hardship license.

Since third offense OUI cases are considered very serious criminal charges, you and your attorney will have to decide on your best possible defense. In many cases, a plea bargain is not a great option at this stage unless the prosecution’s case against you is weak (such as an out of state conviction). If you hire an experienced OUI defense attorney, a trial may be in your best interest because your attorney can try to get the charge against you dismissed.

It’s important to understand that hiring an attorney who doesn’t specialize in this area of law at this stage would be a life-changing decision. The prosecution will be coming at you with full force and you need someone on your side to defend the charge against you.

Have a DUI/DWI/OUI related question? Stephen L. Jones is available 24-hours a day. Please call: (617) 851-7153