There are two different types of charges for drunk driving cases in the state of Maryland. They are based on the amount you have had to drink and they vary in severity of consequences.

You will be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) if your blood alcohol level (BAC) is .08 or greater. You will be charged with driving while impaired (DWI) if your BAC is at a level of .07.

When the police suspect you have been drinking, they will ask you to perform a field sobriety test to assess your reaction time, coordination, and reflexes. During this test, they will also evaluate you for other signs of intoxication, including:

· Slurred speech

· Watery eyes

· Scent of alcohol on breath

You will also be given a breathalyzer test to verify your BAC. Refusal to take a breath test comes with severe consequences. Your driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory 120 day period, and your refusal to submit to the test will be used against you in court as an admission of guilt.

Consequences

In Maryland, the consequences for DUI and DWI vary in degree. For a DUI conviction, you will receive:

· Maximum $1,000 fine

· Up to one year in jail

· 45 day suspension of your license

· 12 points on your license

For a DWI conviction, you will receive:

· Maximum $500 fine

· Up to 60 days in jail

· Maximum 60 day suspension of your license

· 8 points on your driver’s license

Your insurance company will most likely take one of two actions when they are notified of your conviction. They will either drastically raise your rates or they will cancel your policy.

You Don’t Have to Lose Your License

The state of Maryland offers you a chance to appeal the suspension of your driver’s license. However, the police rarely inform you of this right and time is of the essence when appealing your suspension.

You have ten days to ask for a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Administration. Hiring an experienced DUI attorney will greatly help you at this hearing. It is not advisable to defend yourself. If you don’t file for your hearing within the allotted ten day time frame, your license will automatically be suspended.

Other Implications of your DUI

Your DUI conviction can affect your entire life. Your conviction will stay on your record for the rest of your life. Depending on your occupation, you may have trouble with employment. If you work in education, government, or medicine, you may lose your job. Furthermore, your DUI could prevent you from getting hired in these fields at a later date.

The best way to minimize the damage done by a DUI is to hire an attorney to represent you. Lawyers who specialize in DUI cases will know how to pick apart the evidence against you to help reduce your sentence. Considering the widespread impact on your life, you can’t afford to pass up this assistance.

About the Author:

If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI in the Baltimore, Annapolis, and Columbia, Maryland area, please contact the law firm of Jimeno & Gray today for an initial consultation.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Maryland Dwi Laws

What is the name of that song that involves a high school girl and a drunk driving accident?

What is the song that shows a high school girl getting into a car crash because of drunk driving. It is raining and she ends up dying… Does anyone know?

Untitled(How Could This Happen To Me)_Simple Plan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQOBoA8g3RI

Police Blotter: Jan. 21, 2010
Grass Valley Police Department Tuesday 8:39 a.m. – A woman called from a store on the 600 block of Freeman Lane after she ran in to pick something up and came back to find her keys locked in the vehicle while it was running. Her 18-month old baby was in the car as well. Officers arrived and were able to open the car’s door. 12:36 p.m. – Callers on McCourtney Road reported a man in a black …

The road offensive: what readers said
A full list of readers’ responses to the question of whether road carnage among young drivers be stopped or are youth beyond the reach of road safety messages?

What is the average price for DUI/DWI lawyers in Maryland?

I got a DUI/DWI in howard county Maryland. This is my first offense relating to any drunk driving charges. I am truly very sorry and never ever intend to get behind the wheel after this one. My BAC was .19, what are the average fees I am looking at to get out of this one?

Minimum of $1,000 for a decent attorney. $2,000 is pretty common and the best DUI attorneys can be $6,000. All of these numbers are assuming you do not go to trial.

Do (Maryland) police officers always have the right to give a breathalyzer test?

I know that under Maryland law, any person driving a car who gets pulled over has to submit to a breathalyzer test if requested. But is there any law that requires a person on the street to do so? We can assume that there is alcohol in the vicinity, but no direct evidence that the particular (underage) person has posession of any alcohol or has been drinking.

If the underage person is not driving … why would the officer need to use a breathalyzer?

All the breathalyzer will do is give the level of intoxication … not required for a minor in consumption conviction! The officer has reasonable suspicion, and can stop the person, question them (while doing so he’ll also get a smell of the subject’s breath). That’s all the officer needs to give a minor in consumption citation, the smell of alcohol on the person’s breath and proof that they are not 21 or over.

The officer does not need to prove measurable blood alcohol level, the officer does not need to prove intoxication. The breathalyzer would not be necessary in this case.

Do you think there should be a sliding scale for drunk driving?

I mean I can drink a lot more than the Avg person and still not be drunk. Also, I have practice drinking and driving ALOT so I know I can do it better. Maybe they should have a course like, Drunk drivers ED.

No. I think there should be zero tolerance, and I’ll tell you why.

I had a brother. I was 7, he was 5. We were in the car with my father at the wheel. We went through an intersection on a green light. Another car went through that same intersection on a red light. He T-boned us, hitting our car right where my brother was sitting. I watched him die waiting for the ambulance to arrive. The man was who hit us was drunk.

So I’m extra sensitive about drunk driving. I hate it hate it hate it.

How hard is it for a first tie DUI offender to get a restricted license?

I am being charged with a DUI which I regret and have learned from. I hope to retain some rights to drive to and from work. I live in California. Is there a need to acquire attorney services to ensure I get this? I would like to just pay the fine, do my classes, serve the penalties and get on with life (and never drink and drive again.)

you can get a restrictede license, but it is much easier to do with the assistance from a lawyer.