Getting a first OUI / DUI dismissed may sound like a far-fetched idea, but with the right Massachusetts attorney on your side, it doesn’t have to be.

When facing a DUI/OUI first offense in Massachusetts, you’re going to have a couple of options to consider before and during your upcoming trial in court. Most first offenders have an opportunity outside of a Not Guilty verdict to escape a conviction. That opportunity takes the form of a Continuance Without a Finding.

Getting charged with a first offense DUI doesn’t have to derail your life. Since most courts favor treatment over punishment, many first offenses can be resolved through some form of DUI plea bargain.

If you’ve faced prior DUI charges, then you may be familiar with the pros (and cons) of accepting (or rejecting) a DUI plea bargain. If it’s your first or second DUI in Massachusetts, for example, then receiving a plea bargain may lead to an alternative disposition and less-severe consequences.

It’s almost always beneficial to fight a second OUI charge instead of pleading guilty. Here are the three central reasons why:

If you’ve been arrested for DUI for the second time, it’s natural to feel scared. A second DUI offense threatens you with more significant consequences and fewer options for leniency than those available to first offenders.

In the state of Massachusetts, receiving a second DUI or OUI charge is not necessarily a felony. In most cases, First and second OUI charges are often counted as misdemeanors, while a third charge (and beyond) would be classified as a felony. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and you should know what they are.