Starting October 1st, Stiffer Penalties in MD for Drunk Drivers Involved in Fatal Accidents

             The new law, which was signed by Governor Hogan last spring, will take effect starting tomorrow, October 1^st.    There are stark differences in penalties depending on if you are a first-time DUI offender or someone with a previous DUI offense.  For a first offender that blows between a 0.08 and 0.14 for their Breathalyzer test and involved in a fatal accident, at a minimum, your driver’s license will be taken away for 6 months.  When the BAC is 0.15 or higher, the driver’s license is automatically suspended for one year.  Most importantly, someone with prior drunk-driving related offenses who is caught by police for a DUI/DWI, and as a result is involved in a fatal accident, will lose their driver’s license forever.

            

            This new law was passed unanimously by Maryland’s General Assembly, which clearly shows how important it is to lawmakers to decrease the number of drunk drivers on Maryland’s roadways.  There are far too many drunk drivers on the roads who also contribute to fatal accidents involving innocent people.  Further, there are also far too many repeat DUI offenders who get back on the roads and drink and drive again.  Maryland’s lawmakers clearly believed that current penalties in place were not strict enough.  As a result, anyone with a previous drunk driving offense should never drive drunk again because they are putting their ability to drive ever again at risk.

           

             If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Maryland and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 and schedule an appointment at our office in Silver Spring or throughout Maryland, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/