BASIC MARYLAND DUI, DWI and MVA POINTS: "BLURRED LINES"

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com.  "Here to make a difference.  We can help you."

Among his numerous other accolades, accomplishments, awards and honors, defense attorney Charles Ware is recognized as "one of the 10 BEST DUI and DWI Attorneys in Maryland" by the national organization, American Institute of DUI and DWI Attorneys [AIDUIA].

For an initial courtesy consultation, contact his law firm --- Charles Jerome Ware, Attorneys & Counselors, LLC, at charlesjeromeware@msn.com, (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016.  We can help you.

Maryland drunk driving laws are strict and complex.  It is very important that you contact us as soon as possible after you are arrested for drunk driving.

After a DUI arrest, you have only 10 days from the date of the arrest to request a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) hearing with the office of administrative hearings and pay $150 to the Maryland State Treasurer. If a person is arrested for drunk driving or DUI and fails to request the hearing on time, their license will be suspended automatically.

In Maryland the blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) for a DUI (driving under the influence)arrest is .08 or higher. A blood alcohol concentration level of .07 will result in a DWI (driving while impaired) arrest.

Maryland DUI

• Minimum drivers license suspension of 45 days.
• Punishment of up to $1000 and 1 year in jail for a first offense DUI.
• Punishment of up to $2000 and 2 year in jail for a second offense DUI.
• A DUI conviction will result in 12 points on your Maryland drivers license record.

Maryland DWI

• Drivers license suspension of up to 60 days.
• Punishment of up to $500 and 2 months in jail for a first offense DWI.
• Punishment of up to $500 and 1 year in jail for a second offense DWI.
• A DWI conviction will result in 8 points on your Maryland drivers license record.

If you hold an out of state license and are arrested for DUI or DWI, you will need to schedule a Maryland MVA hearing in order to protect your driving privileges. Maryland is a member of the Interstate Driver's License Compact, which shares information about all driver's license actions with other member states. There are 45 states that belong to this compact.
Driving under influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI) is an offense committed when a driver operates a vehicle after the consumption of alcohol or drugs or other intoxicants. Increased alcohol levels in the driver's blood lead to diminished mental and motor reactions which, in turn, reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle. This significantly increases the risk of the driver committing errors of judgment and often results in accidents causing severe injuries and even death. 
In Maryland, as in the rest of the US, drunk driving is the single largest cause of motor vehicle related fatalities and accounts for an alarmingly high 40% to 50% of the total number of motor vehicle related deaths every year.
Self-representation is not a good idea for anyone charged with DUI or DWI in Maryland.  The laws prohibiting drinking and driving, though Transportation Article-based, carry criminal penalties.  Without legal representation, the defendant (driver) may be fined or put in jail.