People have many responsibilities when they are driving their vehicles in Maryland. They must pay attention to the road and avoid distractions. They must follow the traffic laws such as the speed limits, signal their turns, stop at stop lights and stop signs, drive safely for the various weather conditions and follow other rules. They also must not drive after they have had too much to drink. If they decide to drive while they are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol they could be charged with a crime.
Like other crimes if people are convicted of a DUI or DWI, they could face criminal consequences such as fines, jail time, probation and other penalties. However, when people are charged with drunk driving offenses, they can also lose their driver’s license for a period of time. How long they will lose their license depends on different factors such as how many previous offense they have on their record, how intoxicated they are at the time they were driving, whether there was an accident with fatalities or if they refused to take a test.
Potential length of the license suspension
For a first-time offense people’s driver license will be suspended for 180 days unless there was a fatality involved. If the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) was above .15 and there was a fatality their license will be suspended for a year. Most second offenses will also result in a 180-day suspension, but ones involving fatalities will result in a one year suspension for those with a BAC under .15 and it will result in a revocation for a BAC at .15 or above. If people refuse to take a test their license will be suspended for 270 days for a first offense and for two years on a second offense.
Anyone accused of a crime must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. All those who have been accused of drunk driving should learn about the defenses available to them. If they are successful, the charges could be dismissed and they may not lose their license. Experienced attorneys understand the defenses and may be able to help protect clients’ rights.