OUI – What Are the Fines?

The maximum penalties for a first drunk driving offense in Massachusetts are:

• Up to two and a half years in a jail or house of correction
• Up to $5,000 in fines
• License suspension of up to one year

However, most drivers do not receive the maximum penalties. Realistically, most first-time offenders face the possibility of probation, a suspended license and approximately $2,500 in fines and fees. As you would expect, extremely high levels of blood alcohol content and/or multiple OUIs can lead to increasingly severe sentences. If you were operating under the influence with a child under the age of 14 in the car, or you were involved in an accident, you will also likely face more severe penalties.

If winning the case does not appear to be a viable option, as your DUI lawyer we will seek to work out a deal with the prosecutor. In cases involving a first offense, most prosecutors and judges will agree to what is known as a Continuance Without a Finding (CWOF). This means that technically you are not guilty of a crime, although the CWOF will remain on your record.

Penalties for CWOF typically include one year of probation, a license suspension of 45 to 90 days, a 16-week drug and alcohol education program, other shorter programs (usually one day or a half a day), and some fees.