DWI LAWS Maryland MD

DWI LAWS Maryland MD

First Maryland DUI / DWI
1st Drunk Driving Conviction
First DUI
Jail – Up to 1 Year
Jail – Up to 2 Years (If Transporting Minor)
License Suspension – 6 Months Minimum
Fine - Up to $1,000
Fine - Up to $2,000 (If Transporting Minor)
First DWI
Jail – Up to 2 Months
Jail – Up to 6 Months (If Transporting Minor)
License Suspension – 6 Months Minimum
Fine - Up to $500
Fine - Up to $1,000 (If Transporting Minor)

Second Maryland DUI / DWI
2nd Drunk Driving Conviction
Second DUI
Jail – Up to 2 Years
Jail – Up to 3 Years (If Transporting Minor)
License Suspension – 1 Year (If Within 5 Years of Previous)
Ignition Interlock Program Possible (After 45 Days of Suspension)
Fine - Up to $2,000
Fine - Up to $3,000 (If Transporting Minor)
Second DWI
Jail – Up to 1 Year
License Suspension – 1 Year Minimum
Fine - Up to $500
Fine - Up to $2,000 (If Transporting Minor)

Third Maryland DUI
3rd (and future) Drunk Driving Conviction
Jail – Up to 3 Years
Jail – Up to 4 Years (If Transporting Minor)
License Suspension – 18 Months Minimum
Fine - Up to $3,000
Fine - Up to $4,000 (If Transporting Minor)

he State of Maryland prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 percent or above. The .08 limit is a standard measurement used across the United States for the "impaired" adult driver. The State of Maryland has a zero tolerance for alcohol for drivers under the age of 21. If a driver under the age of 21 is found to have a .02 percent BAC or above their license could be suspended or revoked. Commercial drivers also face a lower BAC limit of .04 percent.
DWI LAWS Maryland MD
How many drinks does it take to reach the legal limit in Maryland?
It is difficult to guess how many drinks it will take to reach the .08 BAC limit. Each person has unique physical characteristics that factor into the BAC equation. Attributes such as weight, sex, number of drinks consumed over a given time, if you have eaten, all play into the BAC formula. You may want to try our BAC Calculator , however I wouldn't let any results encourage you to drink and drive.

The best answer is not to drink and drive . The State of Maryland has strict laws for drunk driving, and when you drink and drive in Maryland, you risk your freedom, finances and your future.

The first time you are convicted of a DUI in the State of Maryland you will face up to 1 year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. If you were transporting a minor when you were arrested you could be sentenced up to 2 years in jail a pay up to a $2,000 fine. Your drivers license will also be suspended for a minimum of 45 days. Your first DWI conviction will cost you up to 2 months in jail and a $500 fine. In addition, your drivers license could be suspended 60 days.

The second time you are convicted of a DUI, you could be sentenced up to 2 years in jail and fined up to $2,000. If you were transporting a minor when you were arrested you could be sentenced up to 3 years in jail a pay up to a $3,000 fine. Your drivers license will also be suspended for a minimum of 1 year. For your second DWI, you will be fined up to $500 and/or 1 year in jail plus a minimum of 60 day suspension of your drivers license.

The 3rd time you receive a DUI in the State of Maryland you will face up to 3 years imprisonment. Your fine will be up to $3,000 and if you were transporting a minor at the time of your arrest you could face up to 4 years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine. Your drivers license will be suspended for a minimum of 18 months. For your third DWI, you will be fined up to $500 and/or 1 year in jail plus a minimum of 60 day suspension of your drivers license.''
DWI LAWS Maryland MD
Drunk Driving Laws in Maryland
State of Maryland BAC Laws:
All drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher. (DUI)
All drivers with a BAC of .07 (DWI)
Under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher.
Commercial Vehicle Driver with a BAC of .04 or higher.
The Implied Consent Law in Maryland
The implied consent law in Maryland means that as a driver in the State of Maryland you agree to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath or urine if a peace officer has reasonable cause to believe you are under the influence of Alcohol or Drugs. If you refuse to submit to such a test your drivers license could be suspended for 120 days for the first refusal, and an automatic 1 year suspension for your second refusal to submit to a chemical test.

DWI vs. DUI
DWI
Being charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) is the top alcohol infraction. It means, among other things, that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) posted at a level of .08% or higher. In Maryland, the offense is extremely severe in the sense that 12 points automatically are marked against your license. This results in instant revocation of your license.
DWI LAWS Maryland MD
The monetary fine for a first offense is $1,000, and $2,000 for a second offense. But these costs are nothing compared to the money involved with going court and/or hiring an attorney. All total, a DWI charge can set you back up to $10,000.

DUI
Although driving under the influence (DUI) is a lesser infraction under Maryland law, it is still a serious offense. If your BAC is between .04% and .07%, you'll be charged with a DUI.

In many cases, people who end up on the lower end of the BAC spectrum but fail miserably on a field sobriety test end up with this charge. Officer judgment is a major factor. The end result is eight points tallied against your driving record and a $500 fine (for both a first and second offense). Jail time can range from 60 days from the first offense and up to a year for the second.

DUI / DWI / Drunk Driving
SUMMARY OF MARYLAND DRUNK DRIVING - DUI AND DWI LAWS
The most commonly charged criminal offenses are driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while impaired by alcohol. Driving while under the influence or DUI can be proven by a test result of .08 or more or by evidence showing that the driver's normal coordination has been substantially impaired as a result of the consumption of alcohol. The maximum penalties are 1 year and $1000 for a first offense, 2 years and $2000 for a second offense, and 3 years and $3000 for a third offense. DUI also carries 12 points with the MVA and at a hearing the driver's license may be revoked.

Driving while impaired by alcohol or DWI can be proven by evidence showing that the driver's normal coordination was impaired to some extent as a result of the consumption of alcohol. This offense can be proved by evidence of a test result of .07 or more, but less than .08. The maximum penalty is 60 days and $500 for a first offense and one year and $500 for a subsequent offense. DWI also carries 8 points with the MVA and at a hearing the driver's license may be suspended.

If the driver who has been found guilty of either DUI or DWI has not had a prior DUI or DWI in Maryland within the previous 10 years, he or she may be eligible for a probation before judgment or PBJ.

In many cases, there is a viable factual and/or legal defense to the charges. The lawyer's duty is to zealously pursue the interest of the client within the rules of ethics and the law, to achieve the best possible result for the client. In Maryland, it is important to see a lawyer AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after receiving these charges, to fully protect your rights.
DWI LAWS Maryland MD
 Maryland DUI (driving under the influence) consequences include a minimum driver's license suspension of 45 days, and punishment of up to $1,000.00 and one year in jail for a first offense DUI, and $2,000.00 and two years in jail for a second offense DUI. A Maryland DUI conviction will result in 12 points on the Maryland Driver's License record.

 Maryland DWI (driving while impaired), while a lesser offense to a Maryland DUI (driving under the influence) still has very harsh consequences, including a driver's license suspension of up to 60 days, 8 points on the Maryland Driver's License record, up to $500 and two months in jail for a first offense, and up to $500.00 and one year in jail for a second offense.

A refusal to take the breath test in Maryland may result in a 120-day driver's license suspension, plus the refusal may be admissible in court against those accused of violating Maryland DUI or DWI laws.