When someone is arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) in Salisbury or anywhere else in Maryland, two things occur: First, procedures will be started to revoke the driver?ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿs license of the person charged. Secondly, the criminal case against the person begins ??a case that could have a variety of consequences, punishments, and penalties. With regard to the revocation of the license, a driver charged with DUI has only 10 days from the time of the arrest to request a hearing with the MMVA (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration). If the hearing is not requested, the license is automatically suspended. This suspension is independent of the outcome of the criminal case. Even residents from states other than Maryland will still have to petition the MMVA to retain their driving privileges.
The consequences of the DUI charge can include up to $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail for the first offense. A second offense can carry a fine of $2,000 and a two-year jail sentence. In addition, persons convicted of DUI in Salisbury and throughout the state of Maryland have 12 points added to their driving record. If a person were to refuse to take a breathalyzer test when stopped on suspicion of DUI, that refusal can be used in court as proof of knowledge of intoxication.
The laws in Maryland for DUI are stiff. In a state where an average of 150 people are killed every year by someone who is driving drunk, the criminal justice system does not take a DUI charge lightly. Although DUI arrests are down statewide, this is not due to a lack of diligence on the part of law enforcement. Rather, officials who claim that they are doing nothing differently hope that this means that fewer people are driving drunk.
Regardless of statistics and the reasons for them, one thing is certain: if an officer pulls someone over for suspicion of DUI and, in the officer?ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿs judgment, they are intoxicated, they will be charged and arrested. If this happens to you or someone you know, it is important to contact a SalisburyDUI attorney as soon as possible. A Salisbury area DUI attorney will be able to begin the hearing request procedure immediately so your license is not automatically revoked. In addition, your DUI attorney will make sure that your rights are protected at every juncture of the criminal proceedings. The DUI-two-fold consequence procedure of the Maryland court system can sometimes be confusing. Don?ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿt try to maneuver through all of it alone. Contact a DUI attorney in Salisbury, Maryland today.
DUI Attorney Salisbury MD – If you need a proven, diligent DUI lawyer in Ocean City, Maryland, Erin McCormack has the experience and expertise to aggressively defend you against the charges you face. Visit http://erinmccormacklaw.com/index.htm for more information about the attorney services provided by Erin Michael McCormack or call today at (443) 856-4432 to schedule a FREE initial consultation.
DUI Attorney
