It may seem like such a simple question that has such an obvious answer, but it actually isn’t as simple as you may think. So how do you get a drunk driving charge in the state of Maryland? And what are the consequences of such a charge?
First and foremost, let’s get the easy part out of the way. Just like every other state, the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for a driver is 0.08. Any driver over this limit is subject to a DUI arrest and all of the penalties associated with it. However, there is also a zero tolerance underage DUI, where any underage person with a BAC exceeding 0.02 is subject to such a DUI.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself that you could simply refuse a breath test or field sobriety test in order to help the DUI case that you would presumably be subjected to in the near future. However, in Maryland, we have “implied consent” laws (which are actually pretty common across the country). Essentially, these laws say that you consent to such tests when you get a driver’s license and you are accused of driving under the influence by a police officer.
There can be variations and different circumstances that may alter specific, but in general, you’re probably going to have to give up a BAC result if you are accused of drunk driving.
So what are the penalties of a DUI charge? They vary greatly from case to case, but you can probably expect the threat of hefty fines, alcohol education classes, the suspension of your license, the confiscation of your vehicle, the potential of an ignition interlock and maybe even jail time.
Source: FindLaw, “Maryland DUI Laws,” Accessed Nov. 11, 2014
