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Maryland DUI Laws Get Tougher for Drunk Driving Offenses

dui in marylandAs of October 2009, things got much more difficult for drivers charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Here's a fact: almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. involve alcohol. Before new laws went into effect in the state of Maryland, DUI penalties were relatively mild compared to the rest of the nation. Now, offenders face license suspension for up to a year, harsher fines - and even jail time if one furnishes alcohol to a minor. Drivers under the age of twenty-one who are charged with DUI also face possession charges.

Read more about the new Maryland DUI Laws here ...

Maryland Drunk Driving Penalties: Are You Aware of Your Rights?

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If you have been charged with driving under the influence, you need all the help you can get – which is where the services of a Maryland DUI attorney can help mitigate the damage. Are you aware of your rights under the law if charged with driving under the influence?

Under new Maryland drunk driving laws that took effect on 1 October 2009, if you are convicted of drunk driving for the first time and your blood alcohol content (BAC) level was over .08, you could be sentenced to a jail term of up to a year and fined as much as $1000. If you were transporting a minor at the time of the offense, these penalties can be doubled. In addition, your driving privileges will be suspended for a minimum of six months.

Read more about the new Maryland DUI Penalties here ...

Maryland DUI - What Is It?

maryland dui attorneyIn Maryland, as well as in other states, DUI means driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It has also been called DWI (Driving while Intoxicated) and OUI (Operating Under the Influence). Operating a vehicle with a .08% blood alcohol level or higher and if you test at this level or above it is used as evidence of Driving Under the Influence and that is illegal in all states. However, it is also possible to receive a DUI conviction or a similar charge even if your BAC is lower. Blood Alcohol concentration, or Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol that shows up in your blood. Naturally the higher the alcohol level in your blood the more impaired you will become.

Read more about Maryland DUI here ...