Beware of penalties that you may still face when you have the best Massachusetts

Posted by SharonEvans on January 5th, 2013

The problem of getting charged with DUI is that you end up paying very harsh penalties, even for your first offense. A professional Massachusetts DUI attorney may be able to defend you but for this you need the best of DUI attorneys. And when you hire the best MA OUI attorney you also pay considerably in lawyer fees. Look at it any way and you will never find it profitable when you drive after drinking.

Given below are the penalties that you stand to pay when you are caught driving under influence. But before you read about these penalties here is one startling stat for you. In MA one is deemed to be driving under influence when their BAC count is 0.08% or above. The startling fact is that 80% people charged with DUI in 2010 had BAC count of 0.15% or more.

First offense

Monetary fine – This could be anywhere between $500 and $5,000.

Jail term – Jail term could be up to 2 1/2 years.

License suspension could be up to 1 year in duration.

Alternative Disposition (24D)

•             It is mandatory to go through 16 weeks of alcohol drug education.

•             License suspension will be for 45 to 90 days. This will go up to 210 days if you are below the age of 21.

•             You will be under probation for 1 year.

•             If you are eligible you could get hardship allowance but this is not applicable if your license suspension is due to refusal of breath or blood test.

Second offense

Monetary fine – This could be anywhere between $600 and $10,000.

Jail term – The mandatory jail term is 30 days and you will face between 60 days and 2.5 years in jail.

License suspension will be up to 2 year in duration. Work hardship allowance may be allowed after 12 months. General hardship allowance may be allowed after 18 months.

Alternative Disposition (24D)

•             It is mandatory to go through 14 days of patient alcohol treatment program.

•             Ignition Interlock device has to be installed in your vehicle for 2 years.

•             You will be under probation for 2 years.

•             Hardship allowance may be given after 3 years if you refuse breath or blood test.

Cahill Disposition is allowed if there is a gap of 10 years or more between the first and second offenses. But 24D will be imposed.

For third, fourth and fifth offenses the penalties go up and could reach up to $50,000. Mandatory jail terms are part of the sentence and one could be looking at a minimum of 24 months in jail. Hardship allowance is delayed more and more depending on the offense number. And most importantly, no Alternative Disposition is allowed in any of these three offenses. And you need a professional Massachusetts DUI attorney or MA OUI attorney. Don’t lose your license under the implied consent law. Our Lowell Attorneys will help with your case. Also serving Boston.

A Massachusetts DUI attorney or MA OUI attorney has the knowledge of DUI and should be connected with immediately after the incident. Your Massachusetts DUI attorney or MA OUI attorney will handle all aspects of your case.

The penalties become steeper for continued DUI charges. Only a professional Massachusetts DUI implied consent law or Boston MA OUI attorney can handle the most complicated of cases.