Reader’s Question:

I have read that in some DUI cases here in Baltimore, Maryland, blood alcohol test has been proven inaccurate. What are the things that could affect the results of the blood alcohol test?

Robert

Baltimore, MD

Apparently, laboratory testing errors could occur in blood alcohol testing in measuring the blood alcohol content for someone who is suspected for DUI. This can actually render any test result inaccurate. But the most significant concern for blood alcohol testing is whether the test is of the “blood serum” or of the “whole blood.” Police crime laboratories in Baltimore, Maryland would test the “whole blood” and would produce the blood alcohol content (BAC). But several clinics and hospitals test only the “blood serum,” which results in a BAC that can be 25% - 33% higher than a “whole blood” test result.

Blood alcohol test results could also not be helpful or inaccurate if rubbing alcohol is swabbed before drawing the blood sample. The person may also have high blood ketones, as in diabetic ketoacidosis which could affect the result of the test. It can also have an effect on the test results if the person takes herbal supplements and cough medicines that contain alcohol, such as kava or ginseng.

Tags: blood alcohol test, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

My sister has just been recently charged with DWI here in Maryland. I wasn’t told by the details of what really happened but I was told by my mom that her case involves an aggravating factor and this could mean more serious than a normal DWI case. What does mean if they say that she has an aggravated DWI case? Does she need to hire a DWI lawyer?

Neal

Silver Spring, MD

There are a lot of aggravating factors that could be involved in a DWI case. In the state of Maryland, it will be considered an aggravated DWI if the defendant had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .18 percent or above, had an accident that caused partial or total disability or even death, having a child in the car, if it resulted in property damage exceeding a certain amount (often $500), or if the driver has prior (and relatively recent) convictions for drunk driving. If your sister is involved in this kind of DWI case, she should hire a specialized DWI lawyer. This kind of DWI lawyer will be able to guide her about the latest developments in the DWI legal framework and rules.

To educate you more on the DWI law in Maryland, a DWI charge actually entails two different cases. One would be the administrative driver’s license action and a court case. In the administrative driver’s license action, your sister may lose her driving privileges. There may be partial or complete suspension of her driver’s license. Even worse situation would develop if her case is proved to her disadvantage in court. This may entail her to face jail term and also pay financial penalties. If it’s true that there are aggravating factors involved in her case, it will increase her penalties and punishments. All the more reason why she should hire a DWI lawyer.

Reader’s Question:

My daughter is so afraid because this is the first time that she was charged for DUI. She was arrested in Maryland and she wants to know what are the things that she needs to do and the things that she needs to avoid. Thanks.

Sidney

Baltimore, MD

Thousands of drivers are charged with DUI every year. There are some things that they should do and some things they should avoid doing. The things that should be taken if charged with a DUI arrest in California are many and will cost time and money, to say the least.You are risking being stopped for driving under the influence if you are out having fun and consuming alcohol and then get behind the wheel of your car.

A critical step is seeking legal help. You need to find an experienced lawyer in Maryland that knows all of the laws concerning DUI and also has a proven record with DMV. That is because there will not only be a hearing for DUI charge in criminal court but there will also be one at DMV. The attorney needs to be aggressive in daughter’s driving privileges. There are a lot of good lawyers around in Maryland and I’m sure you are out to find one.

For now, the only thing I would suggest that your daughter should not be doing is to mix drinking and driving together.

Reader’s Question:

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.

Reader’s Question:

I am Frank from Baltimore, Maryland. My son who is 25 years old was arrested for a DUI offense. I want that my son will be free from these charges. What are the cases that we need to face and win in order to be free from this mess that he is in?

Frank, Baltimore MD

Frank,

I was in your shoes a year ago when my daughter was arrested for a DUI offense. The Maryland DUI lawyer that we hired told me that there are two cases that my daughter should face one is a criminal case and the other one is an administrative case.

As explained by our lawyer, a criminal case simply means that my daughter is going to face criminal charges as well as penalties for the offense charged against her. As for the administrative case, it deals more with the suspension of the driver’s license.

Like any father who sees his own son or daughter facing criminal charges and administrative case, we always do the best we can in order to get out from that mess. I would suggest that you should get a very competent Maryland DUI lawyer. These two cases: criminal and administrative, require in depth knowledge in law as well as the needed legal experience to win both cases. I hired the best Maryland DUI lawyer in town that is why my daughter is out now, had learned her lesson and became a responsible driver.

Reader’s Question:

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.

Before you go to a consultation with a Rockville Maryland DWI attorney, you need to prepare yourself to ask questions and demand answers. One particular subject that your consultation should touch on is a fee agreement, but in order to get the best fee agreement, you have to ask the correct questions.

You should have a typed fee agreement in your hand when you leave the office of the Rockville Maryland DWI attorney. The agreement should include a concise list of duties that your attorney will perform concerning your case, as well as how you will be involved in the process. You should see a total estimate, as well as separate charges. Ask these questions to get more detail:

• What kind of payment plan can be set up for me to pay you? How much interest will be charged?
• If my case turns out to be more complicated, will the rate rise? What about the total price? What’s the highest price that I can expect?
• Is this the lowest possible charge for my case, or is there anything I can do to cut some of these charges?

You can hire good Frederick Maryland DUI lawyer, but in the end they can only work with what you give them, so when deciding how much you’re willing to pay for a good lawyer, take a look at the evidence against you to figure out just how tough a time you’ll have beating the rap or even just getting it reduced.

Police officers note many behaviors, actions, and tests when they decide to charge someone with a DUI. Figure out which of these you’re guilty of, or they say you’re guilty of, and present them to your Frederick Maryland DUI lawyer:

• Negligent driving, wild driving, not turning on your headlights at night, etc.
• Forgetfullness, confused speech, muffled speech.
• Tossed hair, bloodshot red eyes, alcoholic stench.
• Inability to do easy things, like recite the alphabit or stand on your foot.
• Bad response to questions about what you’ve been drinking.
• High BAC level from blood tests, breathalyzer, etc.

Fee agreemtns that explain the cost of Maryland DUI attorney can be long and boring, but you should grit your teeth and read them anyway. Some of the details may be surprising, and you’ll need to watch the smaller charges, because they have the tendency of being variable, so you need to keep track of them and make sure that when they change, they’re supposed to, and they change the right amount.

I made up a list of the smaller fees that you’ll see on the cost of Hagerstown DUI attorney fee agreement for most lawyers. Scribble these down on a paper and look for them on your fee document.

• Your lawyer will probably charge you for things like paper use, postage for letters and files, and various other office related things that may be used for your case.
• A lawyer often has employees do some of the research, paperwork, and so on for your case, and so some will put in a charge for that delegation as well, even moreso when the employees go into overtime.
• One benefit of having a lawyer is that they will often handle the court fees for you, but not for free: you’ll still get charged for things like juries, filing fees, and the use of court space in your fee agreement.
• Though not every time, a lot of lawyers also put in a charge for traveling fees for the costs incurred by them when they meet you at the courthouse, or bring your witnesses there.

After the first step (hiring a DUI lawyer), you have to make a few more steps to guide you along the way. A DUI case is very serious, and it’s something you have to navigate, not wander through without making any sense of things. The one thing you need to get you and your College Park Maryland DWI lawyer through it, working together? Goals.

Schedule a second consultation with that College Park Maryland DWI lawyer of yours, but before time, take out a piece of paper and write down what you’re expecting out of your case. How long do you think it will take? What do you want to have accomplished in the end? Then, take these and communicate them to your lawyer so that the two of you can discuss them and agree on which ones are best.

Your lawyers won’t just nod and agree, though. They will help you make your goals more reflective of reality. You can’t have everything you want (no fines! no jail time! full driver’s license!), but the lawyer can tell you realistically what your case can possibly achieve, and what it probably will achieve, so that you can keep your expectations on level with that. Having steps to follow and a schedule will help you help your lawyer.