Your License After a First Offense Baltimore DUI
The impact on your driver’s license after a DUI charge is going to vary depending on the results of the Breathalyzer test. There are three different types of penalties in Maryland: one set of penalties for breath results between .08 and .14, another set of penalties for breath results of .15 or higher, and a third set of penalties for refusals to submit to the Breathalyzer.
Following a first-time DUI charge in Baltimore, you can challenge the suspension of your license with the help of an experienced attorney who understands the process and what is required. You have the opportunity to request an administrative hearing at the office of administrative hearings, where the MVA has to prove all the elements that are required to suspend your license. But if you don’t request the hearing, then the suspension is automatic. It always makes sense to talk to a lawyer and decide whether or not requesting a hearing is in your best interest.
Restricted License Applications in Baltimore
You can apply for a restricted license in Baltimore after you’ve been charged with your first offense DUI. The type of restricted license is going to vary based on the nature of the administrative suspension. For low-blow cases—in other words, when you blow below a .15—you’re eligible for a work restricted license. It doesn’t require the installation of an ignition interlock device, and it allows you to drive to and from work, on the job and to and from certain other restricted activities.
In other situations, generally when there’s a high blow or a refusal to blow, the only kind of modification that one is eligible for requires participation with the ignition interlock program.
If Not Convicted of a DUI
The administrative suspension and the criminal conviction are two separate things, and being convicted or not convicted doesn’t necessarily affect the administrative suspension. However, receiving a conviction can cause points to be assessed against your driver’s license, which could then trigger an additional suspension of your license. This process can be explained more thoroughly with respect to your specific case when you ask a local Baltimore first offense DUI attorney.
Biggest Mistakes to Avoid After Baltimore First Offense DUI
When you’re arrested for DUI, certain clocks begin to run. You only have a certain number of days to request a hearing regarding the suspension of your driver’s license, so one of the biggest mistakes is not talking to a lawyer about getting a hearing as soon as possible subsequent to being charged with a DUI.
For many people, the ability to drive allows them to navigate their daily life with the least amount of resistance. If their license is suspended, things like going to work, picking up groceries, and carpooling children become much more difficult. A Baltimore first offense DUI attorney understands the dilemma of not having the ability to drive. They will work diligently and aggressively with you to help you avoid a license suspension and instead advocate for a restricted license.