Not one of my clients in the past has ever wanted to be arrested
for drunk driving. What I mean by that is, no one sets out to
drink too much and get behind the wheel of a vehicle. There are a
million scenarios in which people are charged with DUI in
Maryland. Although a drunk driving arrest may be unfortunate,
there are steps you should and can take when dealing with a DUI
arrest.
The first and most important step is to get help. Help may me
be in the form of many fashions, support from friends and
family, as well as legal help in the form of a
DUI defense lawyer.
There's no need to throw your hands in the air and give up
after a DUI or DWI arrest. If you take the appropriate steps
after the arrest you can mitigate or even diminish the chances
of serious consequences.
In Maryland, the consequences can come from two separate
tribunals or governmental agencies. The first set of
consequences comes in the form of administrative penalties to
your privilege to drive. In Maryland, the courts and law have
classified a driver's license as a "privilege." That means, you
do not have an absolute right to drive a motor vehicle,
however, you are granted a privilege by the state of Maryland
to operate a motor vehicle.
The State has set out specific rules and regulations that come
with this privilege. One of these rules and regulations is the
"
implied
consent rule." This means, when you receive a license or
privilege drive or you operate a motor vehicle within the
boundaries of Maryland, you implicitly consent to submit to an
alcohol test if you're suspected of drunk driving.
There are various consequences to submitting to a breath test
or blood test as well as consequences to refusing this test.
Those consequences may come in the form of a license suspension
or the requirement to participate in the
ignition interlock program.
The second set of consequences is what may happen when you go
to
court. The
drunk
driving laws in Maryland are specific and set forth the
rules and procedures by which a person can be found guilty of
DUI or DWI. In Maryland, there is a distinction between DUI,
"driving under the influence," and DWI, "driving while
impaired."
The distinction is in the form of the evidence required to find
you guilty as well as the
penaltiesthat
may be imposed if convicted. The judges in Maryland are the
ones that impose the sentence and penalties for drunk driving
convictions. Unlike some jurisdictions and states, the jury
does not dictate the consequences if you're found guilty of
drinking and driving.
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS FOR DRUNK DRIVING IN
MARYLAND
Judges in Maryland can impose various sanctions for convicted
drunk drivers. Those sanctions may include fines, court costs,
probation, either supervised or unsupervised, as well as
various other conditions such as alcohol education and
treatment, community service, and any other appropriate action
the court feels is necessary to prevent a subsequent drunk
driving incident. With the help of an experienced Maryland DUI
lawyer, you may be able to avoid or mitigate the potential
outcome after a DUI arrest.
LAWYERS THAT HELP DEAL WITH A
DUI
If you're charged with drunk driving and you need to know how
to deal with the drunk driving arrest and everything after, you
need to seek advice from an experienced DUI and DWI defense
lawyer. Our DUI lawyer can guide you through the steps from
preserving your privilege to drive to helping you prepare for
trial and avoiding enhanced penalties and consequences. Contact
the Law Offices of Randolph Rice today if you've been charged
with DUI in Maryland and learn how to deal with your DUI or DWI
arrest.