Defending an individual against allegations of Operating Under the Influence (OUI) is a highly specialized area of criminal defense. Unlike defending clients against charges of burglary, assault or arson, an OUI lawyer must have special training and experience in this particular field to provide sound legal guidance throughout the court and DMV process.
In the State of Massachusetts, OUI refers to the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The charge may also be called DWI, DUI or Driving While Intoxicated. Regardless of the name, these offenses are very similar and carry serious penalties including license suspension, probation, fines and jail time.
If an officer has probable cause to believe that you are intoxicated while in operation of a motor vehicle, you will be asked to take a chemical test such as a breathalyzer to confirm the presence of alcohol or drugs. A tenacious OUI defense attorney will work relentlessly to expose any weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, such as the quality of the breath or blood test, problems with the testing equipment, improper storage of the sample and/or any other technical issues.
An experienced New Bedford OUI attorney can be instrumental in negotiating a more favorable outcome to your case by lowering the charges or avoiding jail time, such as enrolling you in an alcohol education program instead of prison. However, if it is necessary to go to trial, your OUI lawyer will vigorously represent you at your court appearances and present expert testimony to help win your case.