Marijuana for medical and recreational use has been fully legal in Massachusetts for several years. The legalization of cannabis, however, has led to some confusion regarding Massachusetts’ operating under the influence (OUI) laws. You could technically drive while smoking marijuana and not be committing a crime, for example, but you can get an OUI...

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law in all 50 states. Due to the extreme dangers associated with driving while impaired, Massachusetts penalizes this crime – referred to as OUI or operating under the influence in Massachusetts – severely. This is especially true when a drunk or intoxicated driver...

Accidents happen, but what comes next if you accidentally commit a crime? For example, if you didn’t realize that you were trespassing on private property when you cut across an empty lot on the way to the bus stop, or that you forgot to pay for an item at the self-checkout until you got...

Leaving the scene of a car accident without fulfilling your responsibilities as a driver is against the law in Massachusetts. This is referred to informally as a hit-and-run, and it can carry severe criminal consequences. Like most states, Massachusetts penalizes hit-and-run crimes harshly to send a message to others in the community. If you've...

A criminal citation is something that you may receive in the mail in Massachusetts. It is a slip of paper titled Massachusetts Uniform Citation, with details about the violation that you allegedly committed. If the box labeled “Criminal Application” at the top of the citation is checked, this is cause for concern. It is...