Boston OUI Criminal Defense Lawyer

It’s more important than ever to have a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side if you’ve been charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Last month, Boston made headlines for having the second highest rate in the nation of drivers with a DUI. The study noted that insurance companies pay close attention to not only your driving record, but also the drivers you share a road with when calculating rates.

Unfortunately, driving-related accidents are still a leading cause of death in Massachusetts. In 2017 alone, over 37,000 Americans died in auto accidents, and approximately 1/3 of those accidents involved a drunk driver. Experts estimate the cost of alcohol-related car accidents to be more than $44 billion every year. All this is to say, that politicians in the Commonwealth feel enormous pressure to keep the streets safe.

In response to the study, a spokesperson for Gov. Charlie Baker said, “Governor Baker is committed to working with public safety officials to enforce existing impaired driving laws and has filed bills to give law enforcement more tools and resources to keep our roads safe and substantially reduce distracted driving. The administration looks forward to working with the Legislature to pass comprehensive road safety legislation this session.” More and more politicians are advocating for the installation of Interlock Ignition Devices (IID) for first-time offenders.

An IID is a breath alcohol monitoring device that is attached to the interior of a vehicle. The driver must pass an IID breath-alcohol test before the vehicle’s ignition will start. The IID also requires you to take breath-alcohol re-tests while operating the vehicle. While studies have shown that IIDs do help reduce the incidence of drunk driving, having an IID installed in your car can be invasive, anxiety-inducing, and embarrassing.

IIDs first came into effect in 2005 after “Melanie’s Law” was passed. Melanie’s Law increased the penalties for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Currently, IID installation is only required for multiple OUI offenders. Imposing an IID for first-time offenders would be a major departure from the tradition sanctions.

When you’re convicted of a crime, you face both “direct” and “collateral” consequences. Direct consequences include penalties like incarceration or probation. Collateral consequences, on the other hand, are penalties that accompany a criminal conviction but are not part of the direct result of that conviction. Common examples include losing your right to vote or losing your trade license. Increased insurance rates are a collateral consequence of an OUI conviction.

Insurance rates are not your first concern when you’ve been charged with an OUI, but a conviction can have huge consequences on your payments. The above-mentioned study also looked at the effect an OUI conviction can have on your car insurance rate. On average, an OUI conviction raises car insurance by $830 a year, for at least three years. That means on average an OUI will cost you an additional $2,500 on insurance rates alone.

When weighing the pros and cons of hiring a criminal defense lawyer, there’s a lot more to consider than just having a criminal record. People are often unaware of the full spectrum of consequences of a conviction when making these important decisions.

If you are facing an OUI charge in the Boston area, you should hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights. The Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy has nearly twenty-five years of experience defending people accused of driving under the influence. Attorney Patrick J. Murphy's law office is located at One South Market Street, Fourth Floor in downtown Boston, about an hour drive from the heart of Worcester County. If you need to discuss your OUI case, Attorney Murphy provides a free and confidential consultation. You can reach the Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy at (617) 367-0450 any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or you can use our online form to set up an appointment.