Quick answer: In Maryland, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) number is not a single on/off “legal limit.” Each result sits on an evidentiary ladder in Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-307: 0.05 or less means you are presumed sober, 0.07 up to 0.08 is prima facie proof of driving while impaired (DWI), and 0.08 or Read More

Field Sobriety Tests In Maryland Anyone who has been pulled over in Maryland on suspicion of drunk driving has likely experienced the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). For those who are unfamiliar with these field sobriety tests, let’s explore what they are. What are field sobriety tests? The field sobriety test was first created back Read More

Quick answer: Maryland DUI and DWI laws all live in one statute — Md. Code, Transp. § 21-902. It creates two main alcohol charges: DUI under subsection (a), the more serious offense (you were under the influence, or your BAC was 0.08 or higher “per se”), and DWI under subsection (b), the lesser charge for Read More

Right To Speak With Attorney Prior To Chemical Test In Maryland Most people understand that when a person faces criminal charges they have the right to an attorney. This right is guaranteed by both state and federal constitutions and offers protection to individuals who may not understand the law well enough to defend themselves. What Read More

What Causes Police To Pull Cars Over For DUI? The fact is that in Maryland, like everywhere else in the United States, police officers have quite a bit of discretion in pulling over vehicles. The fact that so many laws exist about operating vehicles means that it can be easy for officers to find justification Read More

Quick answer: Maryland DUI penalties run in tiers. A first DUI under § 21-902(a) carries up to 1 year in jail, a $1,200 fine, and 12 points — enough to revoke your license on its own. A second carries up to 2 years and $2,400, and if it lands within 5 years of a prior Read More

Maryland DUI For Out-Of-Staters If you’re in Maryland on vacation you likely want to spend your time having fun and being carefree. Unfortunately, if you are arrested and charged with driving drunk your good time can end up causing havoc, with the consequences often following you back home. Many people mistakenly believe that because an Read More

Are Drunk Driving Checkpoints Legal In Maryland? Sobriety checkpoints, also known as drunk driving checkpoints, are a common method employed by law enforcement officials to nab intoxicated drivers. In some states, the checkpoints are illegal, while other states allow police officers to use them freely. What does Maryland law say about the issue? Keep reading Read More

Quick answer: Probably not as much as you’ve been told. The “GERD defense” is popular on DUI lawyer websites, but the peer-reviewed research largely does not support it — controlled studies of subjects with severe reflux have generally found breath results tracking blood results closely. I’d rather tell you that than sell you a theory Read More