Drunk driving is a widely used term for any act in which mental and motor skills are impaired while operating a vehicle. Depending on the severity of the situation, specific criminal charges include driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving under the influence (DUI), operating under the influence (OUI), or operating while impaired (OWI). When faced with a drunk driving charge in Maryland, the accused needs a Howard County criminal defense lawyer with skill and experience. The attorneys from The Law Office of Shapiro & Mack understand the intricacies of a drunk driving charge, and they can use their experience to help you through this difficult ordeal.

In Maryland, a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .07 percent will receive a DWI charge, while a BAC of .08 percent and over will result in a charge of DUI. A DUI charge can mean a harsher punishment. Maryland is one of the states with an Implied Consent Law. Implied consent, in this case, means that any Maryland driver, upon receiving a license, agrees to submit to a chemical test if an officer suspects a driver is under the influence. A driver refusing this test can face 120 days or more of a suspended license.

In Howard County, as in the rest of the state of Maryland, drunk driving charges carry serious consequences. A Howard County criminal defense lawyer can guide you through this legal procedure. A first DUI offense can result in fine of up to $1,000, jail time of up to 1 year, and license suspension of at least 45 days. For a second DUI offense, fines and jail time can double, and the offender’s license can be suspended for up to a year. A third DUI charge can result in a fine of up to $3,000, up to 3 years in prison and an 18 month license suspension. DWI convictions carry lesser punishments, but they are still serious. A first DWI charge can result in a $500 fine, 2 months in prison and a 60 day license suspension. A second or third conviction can carry a $500 fine, up to 1 year in prison as well as 60 days of a suspended license.

In Maryland, drunk driving is taken seriously by law enforcement officials and the courts, and convictions can result in severe consequences. For anyone charged with drunk driving in Maryland, Howard County criminal defense lawyer who knows the law and who has experience in drunk driving cases is an absolutely necessity. For more information, please contact The Law Office of Shapiro & Mack.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Breathalyzer ‘source code’ could lead to dropped charges (inquisitr.com)
• Facebook Used to Nail Bail Violator in DUI Case (mashable.com)
• Drunk driver who killed 4 people dies in prison (ctv.ca)
• Alberta drunk driver kills himself in prison (cbc.ca)
• Too Short Was Too Drunk To Drive & Now He’s Off To Jail (ithinkheblogs.com)

• YOUR LAWYER MUST BE JURISDICTION SPECIFIC
• Know of Any IRS Agents Involved in Willful Oppression?
• employment criminal background checks
• A DUI And The Law
• When Can “Outrageous Conduct” Apply as a Defense? IV
• About
• How To Win In Todays Courts!