Local DUI Laws

A charge or conviction for OUI (Operating Under the Influence) in Massachusetts can carry serious legal and administrative consequences. But one of the most long-lasting effects people worry about is its impact on employment. Whether you’re currently working, job hunting, or planning a career change, it’s important to understand how an OUI can influence your professional opportunities.

In Massachusetts, an OUI is a criminal offense, not just a traffic violation. This means it becomes part of your criminal record (CORI) and may also appear on your driving history. Both records are accessible to certain employers, especially those who require background checks or rely on clean driving records.

This blog post breaks down how OUI convictions affect employment in Massachusetts, what types of jobs may be impacted, how sealing a record works, and what steps can help reduce long-term professional consequences.

How Employers in Massachusetts View OUI Records

Most employers in Massachusetts conduct some form of background screening as part of the hiring process. Depending on the nature of the job, this can include a review of:

• Your CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information)
• Your RMV driving history
• Additional verification like professional licensing or reference checks

An OUI conviction will appear on your CORI report unless it has been sealed. Even non-conviction outcomes—like a CWOF (Continued Without a Finding)—can show up and may still influence employment decisions.

In Massachusetts, employers are not automatically barred from hiring individuals with criminal records, but they do have the legal right to consider your OUI when making hiring decisions, especially if the offense is recent or relevant to the job.

Jobs Most Affected by OUI Convictions

While a single OUI may not impact every type of job, certain industries and roles place a higher value on clean criminal or driving records. Here are common fields where an OUI can affect eligibility or employment:

• Transportation and Delivery: Jobs that require a clean driving record, such as commercial truck drivers, delivery services, or rideshare platforms like Uber and Lyft.
• Healthcare and Education: Positions that involve working with vulnerable populations often involve more in-depth background checks.
• Government and Public Safety: Roles in law enforcement, fire services, or government contracts may have strict guidelines regarding past convictions.
• Financial Services and Legal Professions: Industries where public trust and fiduciary responsibility are central may be less tolerant of criminal history.
• Licensed Trades: Electricians, contractors, and other professions requiring a state-issued license may face review boards that consider criminal history.

Even in jobs that do not fall into these categories, some employers have policies that disqualify applicants with recent criminal offenses, including OUIs.

How a Sealed OUI Can Help with Job Applications

In Massachusetts, eligible criminal records—including OUIs—can be sealed after a waiting period, which limits their visibility on background checks.

• Misdemeanor OUI: May be sealed five years after the case ends
• Felony OUI: May be sealed ten years after the case ends
• CWOFs and Dismissals: Can often be sealed immediately upon resolution

Once sealed:

• Most employers cannot access the OUI record
• Applicants are legally allowed to answer “no” when asked about past criminal convictions
• The record is still visible to law enforcement and certain licensing boards

Sealing your record can open up more employment opportunities, especially in industries with standard background checks that don’t include expanded or high-level CORI access.

Current Massachusetts Employment Laws Related to OUI

Massachusetts law includes several protections for individuals with criminal records when applying for jobs. These include:

• Ban-the-Box Law: Employers cannot ask about criminal history on initial job applications. Questions about convictions are only allowed later in the hiring process.
• CORI Reform: Employers who make a hiring decision based on CORI data must provide the applicant with a copy of the record used.
• Non-Discrimination: Employers are advised to evaluate convictions based on their relevance to the job, rather than disqualifying applicants automatically.

However, these laws do not prevent employers from declining to hire someone based on an OUI, particularly if the offense directly relates to job responsibilities (e.g., driving, safety-sensitive work, or roles involving children).

How Employers Use Driving Records in Hiring Decisions

Many roles—especially those involving driving—require a clean RMV driving record, which is separate from a criminal background check. The Massachusetts RMV keeps OUI convictions permanently, and they remain visible to:

• Commercial driving employers
• Insurance providers
• State agencies issuing driving permits or licenses

Even if your OUI is sealed from your criminal record, it still shows up on your driving history, which can disqualify you from positions requiring a safe driving record.

Employers that routinely check RMV records include:

• Municipal departments
• Delivery companies
• Construction firms with fleet vehicles
• School districts hiring for transportation roles

In these fields, the impact of an OUI is long-term, and sealing your record won’t prevent employers from seeing the violation in your driving history.

FAQ: Employment and OUI in Massachusetts

Will an OUI disqualify me from all jobs?
No. Many employers consider the context, timing, and relevance of the offense. Some may not conduct background checks at all.

Can I legally say “no” to criminal record questions after sealing?
Yes. Once your OUI record is sealed, Massachusetts law allows you to answer “no” on job applications that ask if you’ve been convicted of a crime.

Will my employer know about a sealed OUI?
In most cases, no. Standard background checks will not show sealed records. However, certain positions in law enforcement, education, or healthcare may access sealed data.

Do I need to disclose my OUI if I’m applying for a job that doesn’t involve driving?
Only if the record is not sealed and the employer asks. Sealing the record removes the legal obligation to disclose it in most job applications.

Does an OUI affect professional licenses?
It can. Licensing boards often conduct deeper background checks and may consider both sealed and unsealed records when evaluating character and eligibility.

Conclusion

An OUI in Massachusetts can have a significant impact on employment, particularly in fields that require background checks, clean driving records, or professional licensing. While not every employer will consider an OUI disqualifying, the record is visible unless formally sealed—and driving-related positions often remain out of reach due to the RMV’s permanent record system.

To understand the broader career effects of an OUI, visit our in-depth guide on DUI Records And Long Term Impact.

You can also explore our focused article on Employment and Professional Impact of a DUI to learn what steps can help protect your career after an OUI in Massachusetts.