Dorchester County DUI Attorney
Call a Dorchester County DUI lawyer with our firm if you need help assessing your legal defense options for a DUI or DWI charge in the state of Maryland.
With people coming and going so often in Dorchester County, traffic laws are strictly enforced in Dorchester County. This is particularly true for laws regarding driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI). In recent years, the penalties associated with DUI in Maryland have grown significantly harsher, and even first-time offenders can be subjected to serious legal consequences. A Maryland DUI could potentially result in fines, probation, the installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, and even jail time. Additionally, the cost of a DUI conviction can easily rise into the thousands of dollars. As a result, anyone facing a driving under the influence case in this area should consult with a Dorchester County DUI lawyer immediately. Here is information on Dorchester courthouses.
Dorchester County DUI Laws
The specific offense that you are accused of will depend on the circumstances of your case. For example, Maryland law draws a distinction between “drugs” and a “controlled dangerous substance.” Consequently, the substance by which a person is allegedly impaired will help determine which law he or she is accused of violating.
The per se legal limit for driving under influence of alcohol in Maryland is a .08 blood alcohol content (BAC). A per se limit means that no additional evidence other than the BAC reading is needed to find a person guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. If a person’s BAC is between .05 and .07, then other evidence of intoxication—such as an officer’s observations of signs of alcohol impairment—can be used to conclude that a person is intoxicated. If a driver’s BAC is between .07 and .08, he or she is presumed to be impaired by alcohol. Finally, a person with a BAC of .05 or less will be presumed to be neither impaired nor under the influence of alcohol.
Importantly, there are much stricter laws for drivers under the age of 21. It is illegal for them to drive with a BAC of .02% or higher.
Dorchester County DUI Penalties
Maryland law sets out the possible penalties associated with DUI. They vary based on the circumstances of your case, but typically the penalties are more severe for each subsequent offense. A Dorchester County DUI attorney can take you through the various potential penalties that accompany a DUI or DWI charge and explain how these might be mitigated, or which even apply to your unique circumstances.
Dorchester County DUI Defenses
Fortunately, there are several potential defenses that an attorney may be able to raise in a Maryland DUI case. An experienced Dorchester County DUI lawyer understands how to call evidence and officer testimony into question and can employ a number of defense strategies on behalf of clients. These can include:
- Challenging the reason for the initial stop
- Calling into question the accuracy of any chemical testing that occurred
- Pointing out flaws in the way that any field sobriety tests were administered
- Impeaching the credibility of the officer who pulled you over
It is extremely important that anyone who is facing a Dorchester County DUI case retain an attorney as soon as possible. An individual does not need to face these charges alone, without an experienced and aggressive legal advocate by their side.