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.