What to do if you are Charged with a DUI in Ocean City this Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend is quickly approaching and that means police officers in Ocean City are gearing up for DUI patrols. Memorial Day signifies the unofficial start of the summer season and many people use that as an excuse to "go crazy." Ocean City is a beach town full of bars and restaurants where it is very easy to drink alcohol in excess. Places like Seacrets are common places where people go to drink a lot of alcohol. With a lot of drinking comes an increased risk of people drinking and driving.

Ocean City is a common vacation destination for local Marylanders. That means that many people choose to drive to the beach. Instead of being forced to Uber, Lyft, or take a taxi, people will just drive their own car. DUI are very common in Ocean City throughout the summer season. A DUI charge in Ocean City is taken very serious and local judges do not take drinking and driving offenses lightly, especially because the area sees a large volume of DUI cases from tourists.

It is very beneficial to hire an experienced DUI attorney in Ocean City to represent you and help you try to avoid the maximum penalties, which include up to 1 year in jail and fines for a first offense. Portner & Shure is recognized as a Top 10 DUI law firm in Maryland, and our attorneys have represented countless DUI offenders in Worcester County.

If you've been charged with a DUI in Ocean City this Memorial Day Weekend, call the experienced DUI attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

What to do if you are Charged with DUI while on Vacation in Ocean City

Every year, thousands of Marylanders and people from other states head to Ocean City for a beach vacation. And inevitably, some of these visitors make the decision to drive drunk and they are subsequently arrested for a DUI. The summer months in Ocean City are the busiest times at the beach and that means the police presence is at its peak. Ocean City Police officers monitor Coastal Highway at all hours of the day looking for drunk drivers.

If you are caught by police driving drunk in Ocean City, you should take it very seriously because there are strict penalties that you will face. Being charged with a serious crime like DUI in a location far from your home is very inconvenient and can cause a lot more problems than just a headache. Depending on the facts of your specific case, you could be facing jail time. Judges in Ocean City courts see vacationers come before them in the court room frequently and they usually do not look favorably on an out-of-towner committed a serious offense.

If you've been charged with a DUI in Ocean City while on vacation, call the TOP 10 DUI lawyers at Portner & Shure. We are a local law firm that not only has an office in Ocean City to meet with clients, but we have offices throughout Maryland. You should have an aggressive defense attorney fighting for you in court in order to limit the most severe consequences.

Call Portner & Shure today for a free DUI consultation.

How Does the Ignition Interlock Process Work?

Recently, in Maryland, stricter penalties were put in place for anyone charged with a DUI. One of the biggest changes involves the required use of an ignition interlock device for first-time offenders. Understanding how the device works and how one gets the device installed in their vehicle can be a bit confusing. Here is some important information about the interlock device:

• If you refuse the breathalyzer test or take the breath test and your results are 0.08 or more, you can elect to participate in the interlock program instead of taking a suspension 
• If you refuse the test or blow over 0.15, you are very limited in your options if you must continue driving--you must elect to participate in the interlock program because there is no other way to get a restricted license to be able to drive
• If you refused the test or blew over 0.15 and elect to participate in the interlock program, the device is required to be installed for one year. If you blew at least 0.08, but less than 0.15, the device is required to be installed for six months
• Within 30 days of your DUI arrest, you must return the ignition interlock form to confirm your participation in the program. Failure to do so will eliminate your ability to have an interlock device installed in your vehicle
• After returning the interlock form, you will contact one of the MVA approved interlock service providers (i.e. Life Safer, Smart Start, Guardian Interlock Services) to set up an installation appointment. You must bring your order of suspension that was given to you by the officer to the interlock provider.
• After the device is installed, the interlock provider will give you a document that you must take to the MVA in order to get your restricted driver's license
• After your six month or one year period is up, depending on your breath test results, you will then return to your interlock provider to have the device removed. Then, you will return to the MVA to exchange your restricted license for your normal license

As you can see, the process for obtaining and maintaining an interlock device is complex. Don't miss out on your opportunity to continue driving for work or school with an interlock device and hire an experienced DUI attorney in Maryland to handle your case.

If you've been charged with a DUI in Maryland, call the Top 10 DUI attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Drunk Driving Crashes have Dropped Across Maryland

A new study was recently released by the University of Maryland, which shows that alcohol-related crashes involving injury or death have decreased by 6% each year since 2011. What's the cause of this consistent drop?

The study linked this drop in alcohol-related crashes to Maryland's increase in the alcohol sales tax, which rose in 2011. The decline in the number of crashes was even higher for younger drivers--12% decline each year. Researches knew that the number of crashes involving fatalities and injuries that were linked to alcohol would decrease over time with improved safety measures in vehicles. However, researchers did not expect such a significant decrease as was observed.

Legislators passed the increase in taxes as a way to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Even with this study's results, legislators do not say they will seek another increase in taxes anytime soon.

Maryland lawmakers continue to propose new laws in order to cut down on the number of drunk drivers on the roadways, including just recently, the ignition interlock requirement and more severe penalties for those caught drinking and driving. Drunk driving continues to be a major problem, and will certainly remain a high priority for lawmakers and police across the state.

If you've been charged with DUI in Maryland, call the attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Charged with DUI in Maryland—Your Ability to Drive Will Be Significantly Affected

In Maryland, when you are arrested for DUI, the police officer will confiscate your driver's license (unless you have an out-of-state license) and provide you with a temporary paper license. This paper license must remain in your vehicle while driving or else you can be charged with driving without a license. The temporary license is only valid for 45 days, and on that 46th day if you have not taken any action, your ability to drive is suspended for a certain period of time depending on various facts of your case (i.e. results of the breath test, refusal of the breath test).  If you take the breath test and the results are under 0.15, you will have three options regarding your driver's license: (1) you may request a MVA hearing to get a restricted license that would still allow you to drive for things such as school or work; (2) you may install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle for a one year period and that would allow you to drive freely; or (3) take the suspension, which varies depending on the facts of your case (180 days-2 years).  However, if you refuse the breath test or take the test with results over 0.15, you are only limited to option (2) and (3)--install the interlock device or take the suspension.

When arrested for a DUI in Maryland, time is a very important factor when it comes to your ability to drive after the arrest. If you are able to request a MVA hearing, you should do so within 10 days of your arrest because that guarantees that your hearing will be scheduled before the 46th day when your suspension will take place. If you do not request a MVA hearing within the first 10 days, you must request one within 30 days of the arrest, or else you lose your chance to get a restricted license.

If you've been arrested for a DUI in Maryland, don't put your driving ability at risk and make sure to hire a top 10 DUI law firm in Maryland to help you throughout the criminal and administrative processes. Call us today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000; (410) 995-1515.