PBJ for First Time DUI in Bel Air? – Don’t Take it for Granted

Throughout Maryland, every county treats DUI cases a little bit differently in terms of how they punish them.  Harford County is one of the toughest counties in Maryland if you’re facing criminal charges, and it is no different for drinking and driving cases. Compared to other counties in the State, Harford County prosecutors offer some of the least attractive plea deals and the judges tend to order harsher sentences, even for first time offenders. Other counties, such as Prince George’s County, make it very easy to automatically get a PBJ by simply paying a fine.

While first time DUI offenders are eligible for a PBJ, assuming that you will get one in Harford County is a huge mistake.  While it is always important to hire an attorney for your DUI case, it is even more important to make sure you hire an experienced DUI attorney for a Harford County case if you want to have a chance at a PBJ.  Don’t get stuck taking a mediocre offer because you retained an attorney who didn’t fight to get you the best result. Unlike a lot of other attorneys, our lawyers aren’t afraid to go to trial and will leverage the strengths in your case to get the best possible result for you.

Maryland DUI Lawyer: What are the Consequences of Refusing the Breath Test When Pulled Over for DUI?

           A police officer may pull you over if he/she suspects that you are driving under the influence of or are impaired by alcohol.  Violating simple traffic laws usually leads to this suspicion (i.e. speeding, crossing over center line, driving on the shoulder).

            

          After you are pulled over, the police officer will likely ask you to perform various field sobriety tests and conduct a breathalyzer test.  If you refuse to take the breathalyzer, the police officer will confiscate your Maryland driver’s license and give you a paper temporary license that is valid for 45 days.  On the 46^th day, your driving privileges are suspended for 12 days for a first offense and 1 year for a second or subsequent offense.

            

           Those drivers that refuse the test have very limited options in trying to get restricted driving privileges.  A driver can either accept the 120 day (or 1 year) suspension, which means no driving whatsoever, or they can participate in the ignition interlock program for a 1 year period.

            

           A driver charged with DUI/DWI in Maryland is left with more options in situations where they take the breathalyzer test, especially for first-time offenders.

           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/ 

Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer: Legislators Want Jail Time for Adults Hosting Underage Drinking Parties

            As we wrote about last month, legislators in Maryland’s General Assembly are working towards passing legislation to increase the penalty for adults that “knowingly and willingly” host underage drinking parties at their home.  Currently, anyone convicted of violating this law are only required to pay a maximum fine of $2,500 per offense.  The call for stricter penalties comes after a devastating accident last summer in which two Potomac teens died in a car accident after attending an underage drinking party.  The bill, which is referred to as “Alex and Calvin’s Law,” is named after the two who died in the accident.

            

            Last month, both the Senate and House passed their respective versions of the bill nearly unanimously.  Both versions of the bill would include a jail sentence of up to one year for a first offense and up to two years for each subsequent offense of “knowingly and willingly” hosting an underage drinking party.  Both bills would also increase the fines for a first offense and every subsequent offense.  There are slight differences in the two versions, however.  The two bodies of lawmakers are trying to hammer out certain details in order to get one uniform bill passed into law.  The biggest difference between the Senate and House versions is that one requires jail time for both furnishing alcohol to underage teenagers and for hosting an underage drinking party, while the other version only requires jail time for hosting an underage drinking party. 

            

            If the Senate and House can come together and create a unified bill, it would then go to a vote, and if passed, could be signed into law by Governor Hogan.

              

            If you or a family member has been charged with an alcohol-related offense in Maryland and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on these types of offenses 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/ 

Maryland DUI Attorney: General Assembly Working Towards Passing Stricter Drunk Driving Laws

            Today, the Maryland Senate passed a bill that would hold drunk drivers liable for punitive damages if they have a previous DUI conviction in the last 10 years and caused the victim’s death or injury while driving with a BAC at or above 0.15.  As expected, state legislators are moving closer towards strengthening DUI laws in Maryland.  This bill now faces a vote in the House of Delegates.

            

            For those who do not know, punitive damages are rarely awarded in Maryland, and will only be awarded when the defendant acted with “evil motive, intent to injure or ill will.”  When a person chooses to drink and drive, they clearly have an intent to injure either themselves, someone else, or both.  This is certainly a step in the right direction of trying to reduce the number of drunk driving related injuries and deaths.  If this bill survives the House and becomes law, not only will drunk drivers face criminal penalties and paying civil damages for injuries sustained by the victim, but they could also face punitive damages, which are damages meant to make the victim or their family whole again and to deter the defendant from doing this again.  As the bill’s chief sponsor stated, punitive damages are meant to “send a statement by Maryland that we do not accept this kind of conduct, that it is intentional conduct.”

            

          This is just one example of possible changes coming to Maryland drunk driving laws in the future.  There has yet to be any proposed legislation that would require an ignition interlock device for all first time DUI offenders.  Many proponents for strengthening the state’s DUI legislation believe that interlock devices must be required for all DUI offenders.  Statistics have shown that if Maryland had this law in place, many innocent lives would have been saved.

              

         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/ 

Maryland DUI Attorney: Drunk Driver Crashes into Building Resulting in Fire

            Overnight, a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the Bright Center West strip mall in Owings, Maryland.  As a result of the accident, a fire started in the building causing significant damage.  After preliminary investigations, police determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.  Fortunately, this occurred at night when nobody was inside the building.  Three firefighters are recovering from minor injuries in trying to put out the fire. 

            

           Exact details of how much the driver had to drink that night and what his blood alcohol levels were at the time of the crash are unknown.  Serious accidents involving alcohol like this one occur far too often in Maryland.  We are lucky that no one was seriously injured in this crash, but there are so many innocent people who have not been as fortunate recently.  Several people in Maryland continue to urge lawmakers to strengthen the state’s DUI laws.  If more accidents like this one continue to occur, that might just happen.  Drunk driving laws already result in serious consequences, and if they become even more strict, it becomes even more important for DUI offenders to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to help defend the charges.

            

          Nobody should ever be drinking and driving, but if you find yourself making that poor decision and police do stop you and charge you with DUI, it is imperative to hire an attorney who handles these matters every day.  While DUI cases might seem straightforward and simple to handle, there are several pieces of information that only your attorney can help you with so as to mitigate the consequences as much as possible.  Our DUI attorneys will guide you every step of the way and prepare you for trial. 

             

         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 Annapolis or throughout Maryland, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/