Blog: DUI/DWI

Sep 20, 2021

All states impose minimum sentencing for DUI. Sometimes, a driver in Glen Burnie, Maryland, gets a lighter penalty for a first DUI, based on circumstances. However, repeat offenders may face much stiffer penalties under new laws. Overview of Maryland DUI Maryland makes driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or a combination is a punishable offense. A driver can get charged with a DUI, driving under the influence, or a DWI, which...

Maryland field sobriety tests can be challenged

Sep 17, 2021

Field sobriety tests are a series of tests used by police officers to determine if a person suspected of impaired driving is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs. The three tests most commonly used are the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk-and-turn, and the one-leg stand. The horizontal gaze nystagmus test checks for involuntary jerking of the eye which can indicate alcohol impairment. The “walk and turn” test requires a test subject to take a specified...

Defenses for a positive Breathalyzer test

Sep 15, 2021

Many state laws give officers the right to pull suspected drunk drivers over for testing. The most commonly used test is a Breathalyzer to measure blood alcohol content, or BAC. However, the test results are not always accurate, and a driver in Maryland can challenge them. Maryland DUI laws and Breathalyzers In Maryland, a driver can get charged for driving under the influence or driving while impaired. The state presumes that a driver...

Appeals court finds probable cause for impaired driving based on trooper’s visual observation of vehicle’s contents

Sep 13, 2021

The trial court made a mistake when it concluded that a Maryland State Trooper lacked probable cause to believe that a man was guilty of impaired driving at the time of his arrest, the Court of Special Appeals has ruled. The trooper was performing road patrol last year in an unmarked car a little past midnight on Route 213, south of the Chestertown Bridge in Queen Anne’s County. The officer saw a vehicle in...

Maryland’s drunk driving laws

Sep 2, 2021

Being arrested for a suspected DUI in Ocean City, Maryland, can be a highly disconcerting event. Most people who are arrested for impaired driving offenses have minimal experience with the criminal justice system and might not know the penalties they are facing or what to expect. Knowing the laws in Maryland for DUI and DWI offenses might help people to understand the process. DUI/DWI laws in Maryland Maryland has a People...

How many DUI BAC tests are there?

Aug 19, 2021

When the police pull a driver over, a stop based on reasonable suspicion may become a DUI arrest. One factor considered when performing a DUI stop in Maryland involves breath test results. Breath tests check for blood alcohol concentration (BAC), a figure that reveals how much alcohol someone recently drank. Not all BAC tests are the same, nor are they always reliable. Different BAC tests A BAC at or above .08 represents a...

What are the pros and cons of refusing field sobriety testing?

Aug 17, 2021

Field sobriety testing is one way that police officers determine whether an individual is impaired by alcohol or drugs. Because the objectivity of these tests is in question, you may wonder if it is in your best benefit to refuse them or not. What affects field sobriety testing? There are many factors that can lead to a person failing If you refuse field sobriety testing You are allowed to refuse...

Penalty differences between DUI & DWI

Aug 11, 2021

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) are often used interchangeably. However, in each state – including Maryland – there are often important differences between these two crimes. One such example is the sentencing that comes with a guilty verdict or plea, as there is an important distinction between the two. What are the penalty differences? DWI For DUI, the penalties are starker. You can be fined up to...

What factors affect your alcohol absorption rate and BAC

Jul 30, 2021

Many individuals get a DUI in Maryland because they don’t realize that their blood alcohol concentration is higher than the legal limit. There are some things that affect how quickly an individual absorbs alcohol. Here’s more information about some of the factors that affect an individual’s alcohol absorption rate and BAC. Medications Certain medications may affect how quickly someone is able to absorb alcohol as well as their BAC. Before an individual mixes...

What is reasonable suspicion for a DUI stop?

Jul 26, 2021

When it comes to most arrests, police need to have a warrant. However, this is not always the case. If an officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that someone is committing a crime, they may stop that individual without a warrant. This is the case when crimes are being committed and when police stop someone they believe is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Laws vary from state to state, but in states...