Massachusetts has a lifetime look-back when it comes to operating under the influence (OUI) cases which means that any offense you commit can come back to haunt you. The state even looks at out-of-state convictions and will count those as priors. It doesn’t matter if the offense happened 30 years ago!
On first offenses, many lawyers who don’t do a lot of OUI cases may try and sell a disposition called a “continued without a finding” or “CWOF” for short. It is a diversionary program, but it is virtually the same thing as pleading guilty. It carries the same penalties, counts as a first offense if you are ever arrested again and stays on your record forever. To add insult to injury, any employer that checks your record will know that you have admitted to a drunk driving charge even though is termed “CWOF” in court.
