There are a variety of penalties. Typically, a first offender can expect one (1) year of probation with a license suspension for 45-90 days and a 16 week mandatory drug and alcohol education program. The administrative penalties in Massachusetts allows the license loss to be up to one (1) year. There is a potential for a hardship license; however, if the case is resolved with the so-called 24(d); or alternative disposition, most offenders will be eligible right away for a hardship license. Refusals to submit to the Implied Consent Law for first offense carries a mandatory license suspension of 180 days.

To get a re-instatement of a license, is by continued upon payment of re-instatement fines and fees, as well as some case specific eligibility for hardship license. There is something called the “Ignition Interlock Devise”; which sometimes can occur with the hardship license option.

First offenses in Massachusetts do not require incarceration or jail time. However, the maximum penalty is 2 ½ years in jail. The so called “First Offenders Disposition” and “Alternative Disposition” do not include any jail or house arrest, but includes probation for one (1) year and the fines can range from a minimum of $500.00 up to $5,000.00 dollars for fines.

The expenses and costs include: completing the sentence; probation fees; re-instatement fees; and other alternative dispositions. The convictions do include sentencing that will include a subsequent arrest for life and will be a second or subsequent offense.