Allegations of drunk driving lead to driving under the influence (DUI) charges. Much of the time, Maryland motorists accused of DUI offenses face misdemeanor charges. They may be at risk of a permanent criminal record and a criminal sentence that could include fines, jail time and a driver’s license suspension.However, the criminal record that results…

If an officer pulls you over for suspicion of impaired driving, you might be asked to perform field sobriety tests. However, they are not entirely foolproof. Many roadside conditions may affect your performance in these tests. In Maryland, being familiar with these external factors and noting them could help protect you from a DUI or…

If police stop you for suspected drunk driving in Maryland, they may request a breath or blood test. That request activates the state’s implied consent law, which affects your driving privileges even before any court case begins. Knowing how refusals work helps you understand the immediate and long-term consequences of that decision.What implied consent means…

Getting stopped for suspected drunk driving can feel intimidating. When the officer asks you to take field sobriety tests, you might assume the results are final. But these tests aren’t perfect. You can challenge them if mistakes occurred during the process.Understanding field sobriety testsField sobriety tests are physical and mental exercises used by officers to…

You might assume DUI checkpoints are legal in every instance, but that isn’t the case. While Maryland permits them under certain conditions, courts require law enforcement to follow strict procedural standards. If those rules aren’t followed, you have the right to challenge the checkpoint in court—and possibly suppress any evidence gathered during the stop.The legal…

Police officers need to have a valid reason to initiate a traffic stop. In some cases, this might because they notice a traffic violation, but that’s not always present. They may notice symptoms of drunk driving, which is known as reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that the police officer sees something that any reasonable person would…

Driving while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol in your car do not fall under the same offense. The police can charge you for having an open container, even if you are not drunk. But can an open container lead to a DUI charge? The answer depends on specific circumstances. Here’s what you need…

Maryland follows an “implied consent” law when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI). This means that, just by driving within the state, a person automatically agrees to chemical testing if an officer suspects that they are drunk while driving. While one can still refuse this test, they will still face an administrative license…

When defending against driving under the influence (DUI), building a strategy and seeking expertise may make a difference. One crucial element of a defense strategy is the use of expert witnesses. But what exactly is the role of expert witnesses, and how can they help you if you are facing a DUI charge?Who can be…

Driving under the influence (DUI) of either alcohol or a controlled substance in Maryland is a criminal offense that you should never take lightly. Even for a first offense, you face a $1,000 fine, a 60-day license suspension, up to two months of jail time and eight points assessed to your license toward revocation.So, what…