In 2009, a Maryland woman drove her car with a BAC
of 0.20 (more than double the legal limit), hit
and killed two innocent people, and fled the scene. A plea deal was reached in the case, in which
she would spend, at most, 20 years in prison.
A Montgomery County Judge sentenced her to 10 years. Since Maryland allows “nonviolent” criminals
to become eligible for parole after serving 25% of their sentence, the criminal
in this case was released in 2013. The
Maryland Parole Commission saw that she was remorseful and took responsibility
for the crime.
Since
being released, she lived in Annapolis and worked a full-time job. In addition, her vehicle had an ignition
interlock device installed on her car.
In July 2015, the device registered three failed attempts due to
alcohol. Initially, she blamed the
failed attempts on Altoids mints, but later rescinded that defense. Luckily, the interlock device would not allow
her car to be driven if she truly was trying to drive under the influence of
alcohol.
After
returning to a court room today, A Montgomery County Judge ordered her to be
held for 90 days while he determines an appropriate sentence for violating her
parole. Her attorneys are arguing for
her to be sentenced to receive alcohol treatment, whereas the prosecutor is
arguing for more jail time.
The
debate on whether to strengthen Maryland’s DUI laws continues to pick up
steam. Many proponents of increasing
consequences of DUI would like to require an ignition interlock device be
installed in the vehicle of anyone convicted for a DUI with a BAC over the
legal limit of 0.08. Currently, an
interlock device is only required for those offenders with a BAC of more than
0.15. Interlock devices are proven to
work—they stop people with alcohol in their system from driving their car. At least 3,800 people have been prevented
from driving because of an interlock device in Maryland.
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 Laurel or throughout Maryland, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/
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