Courts, the RMV, and prosecutors for a Boston OUI
Every office a Boston-area OUI case passes through, with the address and phone number published by the Commonwealth. Confirm hours by phone before you go.
How a Boston OUI case moves
- Arrest and booking. Boston Police, the Massachusetts State Police, or a town police department makes the arrest and books you. Bail is set by a bail commissioner or clerk, or by a judge at arraignment.
- The license case starts at once. If you refused a breath or blood test, your license was taken on the spot and you have 15 days to appear for an RMV refusal hearing at the Haymarket (Boston) Service Center. If you took a breath test and it read 0.08 or more (21 and over), the RMV suspends your license for 30 days; that suspension can be appealed only in the court where the charge is pending.
- Arraignment. Usually the next court day, in the Boston Municipal Court division or district court that covers the place of arrest. The judge can also order a license suspension of up to 30 days at arraignment on a 0.08 breath result (M.G.L. c. 90, § 24N).
- Pretrial. Discovery, motions, and plea talks. Many first offenses are resolved with a 24D disposition: probation, the Driver Alcohol Education Program, and a 45 to 90 day license loss.
- Trial or plea. OUI is a criminal case. You can ask for a jury trial or a bench trial.
- After the case. The RMV applies the license consequences, and a second or later offense brings the ignition interlock requirement under Melanie's Law. See the penalties guide.
Registry of Motor Vehicles
Chemical test refusal hearings are held only at the Boston (Haymarket) RMV Service Center, by a hearings officer, on a walk-in basis. Other suspension hearings are scheduled through the RMV Online Service Center.
RMV Boston (Haymarket) Service Center
136 Blackstone St., Boston, MA 02109
The only place chemical test refusal hearings are held. Mass.gov says these hearings are walk-in, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and you must appear within 15 days of the refusal. The phone number is the RMV Contact Center, not the service center.
RMV Brockton Service Center
490 Forest Ave., Brockton, MA 02301
Listed by the RMV as a suspension hearing location for scheduled hearings. Refusal hearings are not held here.
RMV Lawrence Service Center
73 Winthrop Ave., Lawrence, MA 01843
Listed by the RMV as a suspension hearing location for scheduled hearings. Refusal hearings are not held here.
Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds
Hears appeals of RMV decisions. Mass.gov says you have 10 days to appeal, the fee is $50, and you must appear in person. A refusal suspension is appealed instead to the court where the OUI charge is pending.
Boston Municipal Court
The Boston Municipal Court has eight divisions and serves the City of Boston and the Town of Winthrop. Your case goes to the division that covers the place of arrest; it is printed on your paperwork.
Central Division, Boston Municipal Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114
Downtown, Chinatown, North End, South End through Massachusetts Avenue, West End, and Beacon Hill. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Brighton Division, Boston Municipal Court
52 Academy Hill Rd., Brighton, MA 02135
Allston and Brighton. Press 1 at the prompt.
Charlestown Division, Boston Municipal Court
3 City Square, Charlestown, MA 02129
Charlestown.
Dorchester Division, Boston Municipal Court
510 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Dorchester.
East Boston Division, Boston Municipal Court
37 Meridian St., East Boston, MA 02128
East Boston, Winthrop, Logan Airport, and the Sumner and Callahan Tunnels.
Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
85 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119
Roxbury.
South Boston Division, Boston Municipal Court
535 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
South Boston.
West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
445 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury, and parts of Mattapan and Mission Hill.
District courts around Boston
Outside Boston and Winthrop, an OUI is heard in the district court for the city or town where the arrest happened. These are the nearest, by county. Mass.gov lists every district court.
Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150
Suffolk County. Serves Chelsea and Revere.
Cambridge District Court
4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155
Middlesex County. Also called the Third District Court; serves Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont. Note that it sits in Medford.
Woburn District Court
30 Pleasant Street, Woburn, MA 01801
Middlesex County. Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn. Criminal department ext. 235.
Brookline District Court
360 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445
Norfolk County. Serves the town of Brookline.
Quincy District Court
400 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169
Norfolk County. Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Quincy, Randolph, and Weymouth. Probation: (617) 847-8963.
Dedham District Court
631 High St., Dedham, MA 02026
Norfolk County. Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Needham, Norwood, Wellesley, and Westwood.
Lynn District Court
580 Essex St., Lynn, MA 01901
Essex County. Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott. Probation: (781) 598-6400.
Salem District Court
56 Federal St., Salem, MA 01970
Essex County. Beverly, Danvers, Manchester by the Sea, Middleton, and Salem. Probation: (978) 744-2056.
Brockton District Court
215 Main St., Brockton, MA 02301
Plymouth County. Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Whitman.
Plymouth District Court
52 Obery St., Plymouth, MA 02360
Plymouth County. Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton.
District attorneys
OUI cases are prosecuted by the district attorney for the county. Addresses are from the Commonwealth's list of district attorney offices; call to confirm before visiting.
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114
Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.
State resources
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers – attorney lookup
Check that a lawyer is licensed in Massachusetts and whether they have any public discipline.
Committee for Public Counsel Services
The Massachusetts public defender agency. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court at arraignment whether you qualify for appointed counsel.
M.G.L. c. 90, § 24 – the OUI statute
The law itself, including penalties, the refusal suspension, and the 15-day RMV hearing.