Dorchester County Driving While Impaired Lawyer
Facing Maryland driving while impaired charges is tough, but a Dorchester County Driving While Impaired lawyer who will help you navigate through the turmoil you face is a great recourse. A defense attorney knows how confusing the different sentences and circumstances can be to someone who is not used to dealing with this kind of situation and will try to help you get the lightest sentence possible. When confronted with this type of situation, you may become overwhelmed and discouraged. Finding a DUI attorney in Dorchester County to represent and help you may go a long way toward having your case dismissed or getting a lighter sentence.
Dorchester County
“The Heart of Chesapeake Country” is well known for its agriculture and fishing industries. The county is committed to maintaining the quiet coastal lifestyle that it has enjoyed for so long, and it has a strict priority to keep its roads quiet and safe for all its citizens and visitors.
DWI in Dorchester County carries with it possible legal penalties like fines, incarcerations, and community service. However, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration also has penalties that they may impose on those charged with DWI. These multiple sets of penalties associated with DWI charges make it even more necessary to find a Dorchester County DWI lawyer who understands the process for both sets of penalties.
Potential Legal Charges
There are several different categories that DWI may fall into in the State of Maryland. First offenses usually have a less severe penalty than subsequent offenses, but any DWI that involves a minor in the vehicle carries a heavier sentence. A Dorchester County Driving While Impaired lawyer understands all these categories and can help explain them to you.
Driving While Impaired by Alcohol and/or Drugs
Driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two is penalized depending on whether you have been convicted of DWI in the past. If there have been no previous violations, there are a fine of up to $500 and a jail sentence of up to two months. If there have been previous violations, there are a fine of up to $500 and up to 12 months in jail.
As mentioned before, having a minor in the car when charged with a DWI increases the sentence. If there have been no previous violations, but there was a minor in the car, there is a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. If there have been previous violations, and there was a minor in the car, there are a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 12 months in jail making contact with a Dorchester County DWI lawyer imperative.
Driving While Impaired by Controlled Dangerous Substances
For a first offense DWI from controlled dangerous substances, there is the possibility of up to $1,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. However, if there was a minor in the vehicle, even on a first offense, the penalty is doubled to up to $2,000 in fines and up to two years in prison. The same penalty of up to two years in prison and up to $2,000 is applied to a second offense, provided there was no minor involved. If there is a minor found in the car on a second offense, the penalty is again increased to up to three years of prison time and up to $3,000 in fines. The potential for three years in prison and up to 3,000 also applies to third offenses unless there was a minor involved in the third offense, in which case, the penalty is increased to up to four years in prison and up to $4,000 in fines. There is also mandatory incarceration that may apply, depending on the number of convictions.
Hiring a Dorchester County Driving While Impaired Attorney
Reading this list of potential charges and penalties may have been an overwhelming experience, but there is no need for you to face this alone. With a Dorchester County Driving While Impaired lawyer as your guide, you will receive the benefit of someone with experience in these complicated situations. You may receive a lighter sentence than you expect. The financial and emotional strain of these charges is stressful enough without trying to face it all alone. Seeking legal help from a DWI attorney in Dorchester County is the first step you need to take.