I received a citation for Operating Under the Influence but was not arrested- is there a difference?

Massachusetts OUI citation

If you were not arrested, but received a citation for Operating Under the Influence, you face the same potential penalties as anyone who has been arrested for the same charge. However, receiving a citation instead of an arrest does have one very important benefit. If you sign the back of the citation and mail it to the court within 4 days, requesting a hearing, you will then receive notice of a hearing date. This hearing, known as a “show cause” or “clerk magistrate’s” hearing, provides you with an opportunity to be heard before a formal criminal complaint/ charge is issued against you. DO NOT GO TO THIS HEARING WITHOUT A LAWYER. You have the right to remain silent, and anything that you say at this hearing can be used against you later if the case is set for prosecution. And, without a lawyer present, you lack the benefit of having an expert speak and ask questions on your behalf, meaning that every word out of your mouth becomes evidence against you.

If you receive a citation for operating under the influence, contact our office for you free initial consultation.

Urbelis Law, LLC
(617) 830- 2188

Client Reviews

"Ben Urbelis recently represented me in an OUI case in which I had crashed my car. I honestly did not believe I had any chance of beating it, but fortunately for me Ben was outstanding and all charges were dropped. In my first hearing he was calm, assertive and straight to the point. I was extremely...

MC

"When I found myself charged with my 3rd DUI I was certain without a doubt that I was facing 6 months to 2 1/2 years in state prison. I can’t believe you were able to guide me calmly through the whole nerve wracking process, never sugar coating anything, staying honest and always keeping me informed...

JL

"I want to personally thank Ben and his wonderful a staff at Urbelis Law for what an outstanding job they did for my son and his friends! Ben went above and beyond for them, with a successful outcome. I would highly recommend Ben to anyone that would need his services, he was wonderful!"

Gina

"Huge thank you to not only my friend, but my lawyer,Ben Urbelis..I presented him with a case that at first was a bit tricky on paper... but we worked hard together and got all information we needed to prove i was innocent! He knew from the get go a year ago that he was gonna smash this case, and he...

PB

"Thank you for your excellent representation in this matter. Coming from out of town, it wasreassuringto have an attorney who was so well organized and on top of the process. It was very clear that the judge was not only familiar with you, but had a great deal of respect for you in the courtroom. I...

RC

Contact Us

  1. 1 Free Consultation
  2. 2 Available 24/7
  3. 3 Hablamos Español
Fill out the contact form or call us at (617) 830-2188 to schedule your free consultation.

Leave Us a Message