Local DUI Laws

Understanding the Timeline of an OUI Case

If you’ve been arrested for Operating Under the Influence (OUI) in Massachusetts, one of the first questions you may have is: How long is this going to take? The answer depends on multiple factors, including the complexity of the case, whether you plan to fight the charges, and how the court’s calendar is moving at the time.

Massachusetts treats OUI as a criminal offense, and the legal process follows a specific path. Some cases are resolved within weeks—especially if the defendant accepts a plea agreement or qualifies for a diversion program. Others may last several months if they involve legal motions, trials, or contested evidence.

This article walks through the typical timeline of an OUI case in Massachusetts. From arraignment to final resolution, we’ll cover each phase of the process, explain what can delay a case, and provide clarity on how long you can expect the entire process to last.

Immediate Timeline After an OUI Arrest

The OUI timeline begins as soon as you are arrested. Once taken into custody, you are generally held at the police station until bail is posted or you are released on personal recognizance. The case then quickly moves into the Massachusetts court system.

The first major event is the arraignment, which typically occurs within one to three business days after your arrest. During the arraignment:

• You hear the official charges.
• You enter a plea (usually “not guilty”).
• The judge sets bail or release conditions.
• The court schedules your next hearing.

If you refuse a breath test or fail with a BAC over the legal limit, the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) may impose an immediate administrative license suspension. This can occur even before you’ve had your first court appearance.

So, even in the first few days, you’ll already face both legal and practical consequences, and the clock officially starts ticking on your case.

Pre-Trial Phase: Weeks to Several Months

Following arraignment, your case enters the pre-trial phase, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. This stage involves:

• Evidence exchange (known as “discovery”).
• Legal motions, such as motions to suppress evidence.
• Pre-trial conferences to negotiate possible resolutions.

If the evidence is straightforward and both sides are motivated to settle, a plea agreement can be reached fairly quickly—sometimes in the first month or two. This is especially common for first-time offenders eligible for a 24D disposition, which includes probation, alcohol education classes, and a shorter license suspension.

However, if you or your attorney challenge the arrest, request additional discovery, or file legal motions, the process will take longer. Courts in Massachusetts often reschedule hearings multiple times due to backlog, attorney availability, or pending motions, which extends the case timeline.

On average, the pre-trial phase lasts between 1 to 4 months, but it can go longer if the case is complex or if the court’s schedule is congested.

Motion Hearings and Delays

If your attorney files motions—such as a motion to suppress the breath test, challenge the legality of the stop, or contest how the field sobriety tests were administered—then the court will need to schedule motion hearings. These hearings can:

• Introduce expert testimony or witnesses.
• Require extended legal argument.
• Lead to additional evidence being admitted or excluded.

These hearings often create delays. It’s common for courts to schedule a motion hearing four to six weeks after the motion is filed. If the motion is granted, your case may be dismissed or significantly weakened. If denied, the case proceeds toward trial or resolution.

These proceedings can add an extra month or two to the case, depending on how contested the issues are. If expert witnesses are required, the delay may be longer. In some cases, motions lead to more negotiation and potential plea agreements, which can resolve the case before trial.

Going to Trial: Extending the Timeline

If no resolution is reached through motions or plea offers, your OUI case will go to trial. Most trials in Massachusetts district court are bench trials (heard by a judge), but you may also request a jury trial.

Getting to trial can take several additional months. The court must coordinate scheduling with:

• Defense attorneys
• Prosecutors
• Witnesses (including police officers)
• The judge’s calendar

Before trial, there may be final pre-trial hearings, last-minute motions, or scheduling conflicts. Trials are usually completed in one to three days, but the wait to get to trial can stretch your case timeline to six months or more from the date of arrest.

Keep in mind that choosing trial almost always extends the case, but it also provides the opportunity to contest the charges and evidence more thoroughly.

Plea Deals and Early Resolutions

If you choose to resolve the case through a plea agreement, the timeline can be significantly shorter. Many first-time offenders who qualify for a 24D disposition may complete the entire court process in under two months.

A plea deal typically involves:

• Entering a guilty plea or admission to sufficient facts.
• Accepting court-ordered conditions (probation, alcohol education).
• License suspension of 45–90 days (shorter than standard suspensions).
• Avoiding jail time in most cases.

If you accept the plea at an early pre-trial hearing, the court can schedule sentencing immediately, and the case may be closed within 30 to 60 days.

However, even after a plea, you’ll still need to fulfill conditions like probation or educational programs, which can last several months after the court case itself ends.

Post-Conviction and RMV Delays

Once the court phase is complete—whether by plea or trial—the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) still plays a role in the overall timeline. If your license was suspended:

• You must serve the full suspension period (which varies).
• You may be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) for reinstatement.
• You’ll need to pay RMV fees and sometimes attend a reinstatement hearing.

These RMV steps are separate from court and can add weeks or months to the overall impact of the case. Even if your case is resolved in three months, your driving privileges may remain restricted for much longer.

If you plan to appeal or seek record sealing later, those processes involve entirely separate timelines and may take additional months or even years.

Total Duration: What to Expect

To summarize, here’s a general breakdown of how long an OUI case takes in Massachusetts based on the path it follows:

• Quick Resolution via Plea (First Offense): 4–8 weeks
• Standard Pre-Trial Negotiation: 2–4 months
• Case Involving Legal Motions: 3–5 months
• Trial Required: 5–7 months or more
• Post-Conviction RMV Steps: Add 1–6 months for full license reinstatement

These are average ranges. Every case is unique, and court backlogs, holidays, or attorney schedules can cause additional delays.

FAQ: How Long Does an OUI Case Take in Massachusetts?

Can I resolve an OUI case in less than a month?
Possibly, but it’s rare. Most cases take at least 4–6 weeks, even with a quick plea.

What causes the biggest delays in OUI cases?
Motion hearings, trial scheduling, and court backlogs are the most common sources of delay.

If I take a plea deal, does the case end immediately?
The court case may end quickly, but conditions like probation and RMV suspension continue for months.

Do trials take longer than plea deals?
Yes. Cases that go to trial often take 6 months or longer to resolve fully.

Does the RMV timeline affect the court process?
No—but it affects how long your license is suspended and when you can legally drive again.

Conclusion

The length of an OUI case in Massachusetts depends on the specifics of your situation, the legal strategy you pursue, and how quickly the court and RMV process moves. Simple first-offense cases can wrap up in one to two months, especially with a plea. More complex or contested cases that involve motions or trial can extend to six months or more. Even after the court case ends, administrative steps like license reinstatement may add time before everything is truly resolved.

To learn more about each phase in the Massachusetts OUI timeline, visit: DUI Process And Timeline.
For more detail on typical case lengths and what affects the schedule, check out: How Long a DUI Case Typically Takes.