Many people don’t have any idea how intoxicated they are before they get into a vehicle and start to drive. To ensure their own safety (and perhaps the safety of others), some people turn to personalized breathalyzers: devices that can be purchased by non-law enforcement individuals to test their blood alcohol content (BAC). Some bars and taverns may offer use of these devices, too, to test their patrons’ BAC. If the patron is drunk, then [...]

It’s standard procedure in drunk driving cases to give drivers field sobriety tests and breath tests. If the police obtain a warrant, they can also demand that the driver submit to a blood test. The rules are different for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of narcotics. For starters, there is no breath test for detecting drugs in someone’s system. If the police officer suspects a driver was operating his/her vehicle while under the [...]

Many drivers lose their driving privileges due to a DUI conviction, their refusal to take a breath test, or because they accumulated too many points on their driving record. Drivers in Maryland can also lose their right to drive if they fail to pay their child support. The Motor Vehicle Administration and the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) work together to collect child support payments. Parents who fail to comply with their child support order [...]

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious personal safety and public health issue. Over a recent five-year period, drivers operating a motor vehicle while impaired accounted for roughly 1 in 3 deaths on the road in Maryland, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. On average each year, there are approximately 7,884 impaired driving accidents across the state, resulting in 4,026 injuries and 171 deaths. Driving under the influence defined If you are charged [...]

There are two parts to any Driving Under the Influence case. The first part is the criminal case where the driver’s guilt or innocence is established. The second part is the hearing before the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The MVA hearing establishes what happens to your driving privileges as a result of the DUI conviction. Drivers can also be required to attend an MVA hearing if they need to contest a license suspension because they [...]