I heard that here in Maryland, you can avoid going to county jail if you are convicted for DUI by having some sort of other punishments like highway cleanup. How true is this and would there be any other alternative for jail?

Lina

Towson, MD

If someone is sentenced to jail for the crime of DUI in Towson, Maryland, or anywhere in Maryland for that matter, there are other alternatives to going to county jail. This is called alternative sentencing and examples of this are highway cleanup, community service, electronic monitoring, drug rehabilitation/sober living environments and work release.

The highway cleanup is more physically demanding work, such as picking up trash by the side of the freeway. This may seem a tough work but at least you can go home afterwards, take a shower, eat a good meal and sleep in your own bed with not unwanted roommates. Community service is working in a court-approved program and electronic monitoring means wearing an ankle bracelet which detects alcohol consumption by monitoring excretions from the skin. Drug rehabilitation/sober living environments is a program for those who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. The work release is a dorm-like setting wherein the participants go to work during the day and return at night by a specified time. In general, weekends are spent in the work release environment as well since the only allowable release is for work.

My cousin has just been charged with DUI here in Ellicott City, Maryland and he already posted bail through a bondsman. What if he skips or does not appear in court for his arraignment or trial?

Jeff

Ellicott City, MD

Appearing in court in a DUI case trial is a very serious and important matter. If your cousin who has been charged with DUI in Ellicott City, Maryland skips after a bondsman posted bail, the bondsman could arrest him or authorize a bail enforcement agent or private investigator to do so for the purpose of surrendering him into custody to ensure his future appearance in court. It is said that this kind of extraordinary power of a bail bondsman is of ancient origin. When the bail is given, the principal is considered as delivered to the custody of his sureties.

The list of people who are authorized to arrest a bail fugitive include a certified law enforcement officer, someone who is licensed by the State to do so (includes someone who holds a bail license in another state and authorized in writing by the bail or depositor to make the arrest), someone who is contracted and authorized in writing by the bail or depositor to do so, a Bail Recovery Agent and a private Investigator. These people are called bounty hunters, but the term doesn’t fit the facts of today’s world, they’re acting under contract.

This is my second DWI arrest in two years. I served six months of jail time because of my first offense. I’m not worryied about the fees that I might be paying. All I need to know is how long I would have to stay in jail if I get convicted for DWI again in Maryland.

Aaron

Baltimore, MD

The effect a DWI has on the drunk driver and his or her family could be very dramatic in Maryland. Aside from the humiliation, the offender would have to pay court costs, lawyers fees, and worse is possibly the loss of income necessary to support a family.

If you are not so much concerned about the financial consequences, I’m sure you will pay attention on the social consequences of your case if you will be convicted for the second time for DWI.

In the state of Maryland , a second DWI conviction may have up to one year in jail, a suspension of a driver’s license of 180 days to two years, and I would still have to mention, up to $4,000 in fines.

I am kinda new to Aspen Hill and quite often my colleagues at work invite me for drink or two right after our shift. I am skeptical to join them or not since I always drive myself home after work or when attending special occasions from invitations of some friends. I don’t want to disappoint my colleagues the next time they will invite me. Is Driving Under the Influence in Maryland a serious offense?

Sarah, Aspen Hill MD

Sarah dear,

Whatever state you are living in DUI or DWI, still it is an offense that the government is taking drastic measures in order to prevent accidents caused by DUI or DWI.

As far as I can remember, here in Maryland, there are two types of offenses, these are Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired. Of the two offenses, DUI is more serious compared to DWI.

I was told by my husband that here at Maryland, first time offenders for DUI the penalties are :

1. Suspension for driver’s license for 45 days
2. Fine is $1,000
3. Jail time is up to 1 year
4. Upon conviction 12 points is added to the driving record of the offender

Second Time Offender for DUI:

1. Increase of fine to $2,000
2. Jail time is up to 2 years

First time offender for DWI penalties are:

1. Suspension of driver’s license up to 60 days
2. Fine is $500
3. Jail time is 2 months
4. An addition of 8 points to the driving record of the offender

Second Time Offender for DWI:

1. Fine is $500
2. Jail time up to 1 year.

With the given details in relation to the penalties, it is very clear that DUI penalties are higher than DWI in terms of fine, jail time and additional point to the Maryland driving record of the offender.

If I were you girl, going out with colleagues at work is okay as long as you don’t drive your self home when you have taken in alcohol to your body. As mentioned above for the penalties, might it be for DUI or DWI, the penalties say for themselves. Jail time and additional points to your driving record will definitely change your life as much as it did to my friend who has been convicted of DUI a month ago.