Maryland DUI Lawyer

Maryland DUI charges assert that you were driving under the influence of alcohol. While you may know about the dangers of driving while intoxicated, the criminal penalties associated with such offenses are largely misunderstood by the general public. A Maryland DUI attorney can help make sense of the charges against you and offer sound legal advice about your Maryland DUI charges.

If you are suspected of DUI in Maryland, you may be asked to submit to a breath test or even a blood test to determine your blood alcohol content, or BAC. You can refuse these tests, though your license can be immediately suspended if you do. Once arrested for a Maryland DUI charge you only have 10 days within which to schedule a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Administration to contest the suspension of your driving privileges. Fortunately, you are allowed to have a Maryland DUI attorney present at this MVA hearing.

The criminal penalties you might face for a DUI conviction depend on several factors, including your criminal history. If you have had prior DUI convictions, your potential sentence is even more serious:

First Offense DUI: Up to 12 months in jail, $1,000 in fines, 12 points, and a driver's license revocation
Second Offense DUI: Up to 2 years in jail, $2,000 in fines, and driver's license revocation.

When you are facing a DUI charge, a Maryland DUI attorney knows the ins and outs of Maryland DUI laws and can be a valuable asset in your case. The sentence you might face for a conviction and the options available to you can be better explained when discussing this with a Maryland DUI attorney.