I was convicted for my first DUI here in Maryland and I was asked to attend DUI school. Will the completion of DUI class help with my auto insurance rates? Do I need to take other classes to lessen my premiums?

Carlo

Germantown, MD

The completion of a driving school or alcohol class due to your DUI in Germantown, Maryland normally doesn’t help with your auto insurance rates. DUI school is generally a part of the punishments that are mandated by the court after your DUI conviction. Every state has different laws concerning DUI school and some jurisdictions order a person to attend and complete DUI school in order to reinstate driving privileges or obtain a restricted license. Some states mandate DUI school completion upon any DUI conviction.

You would have to get in touch with your auto insurance provider to check if it is necessary for them to have a copy of your DUI school certificate. It would be unlikely that it will lessen your insurance rates since the driving class was because of your DUI conviction and very likely ordered by the courts. Some auto insurance providers give discounts for driver safety course so ask your auto insurance provider as to what type of discounts they could offer. If you think that your auto insurance rates are unreasonably high, I recommend you to get a quote from this website.

My sister would have to do community service and drug rehabilitation/sober living environments because she was convicted for her DUI case in Columbia, Maryland. What does she have to do with that and how do those programs work?

Kenneth

Columbia, MD

Community service and drug rehabilitation/sober living environments are two of the alternative DUI sentencing programs in the state of Maryland. Instead of going to jail, your sister would just have to do the conditions of the programs as part of her conviction for her DUI charge in Columbia, Maryland. In doing the community service, she would have to work in an approved program to substitute for her jail time or fines. Community service is commonly not hard physical labor, and it would be particularly desirable for someone with injuries or other limitations.

When ordered as a condition of release pending the resolution of the DUI case or as part of a DUI sentence, drug rehabilitation/sober living environments offer an attractive alternative to serving time in jail for those who are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. The time spent in the rehabilitation could count as time spent in jail, but it would likely require the efforts of a DUI attorney to make sure that the proper credits are awarded.

My sister was charged with DUI in Maryland and his lawyer is doing everything to build a strong defense. My question is what issues can be raised in a DUI arrest during the criminal trial?

Vanessa

Towson, MD

The very first issue that can be raised in a DUI arrest is if the DUI stop was legal under the Fourth Amendment. In general, there would be three kinds of recognized police-citizen encounters. The first one is the level one encounter where an officer does not stop a person but merely approaches without seizing or stopping him/her in a public place in order to say hello or ask how the person is doing.

The second kind of police-citizen encounter is an investigatory detention or traffic stop. A traffic stop should be based upon “articulable suspicion” and this means that the officer should give a reason for the stop and the stop must not be based on a guess or hunch. Many times an officer would stop citizens on a guess or hunch, and their hunch may be correct but that is illegal and if proven, all evidence being would be thrown out of court or suppressed. The third kind of police-citizen encounter is an arrest that is based on “probable cause.” Your sister’s DUI case in Towson, Maryland could be thrown out of court if the arrest was not based on “probable cause” that she is a less safe driver based on alcohol or drugs consumed prior to or while driving.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer, DUI trial

My husband and I don’t have any record for DUI, my husband being a social drinker and I don’t drink at all. What I don’t understand is that my teenage son got so early into drinking and what’s even worse is that he usually drives himself home after a party. What could be the reason for teens to get into drinking and driving? I’m afraid that my son would cause or be in an accident and be charged for DUI here in Dundalk, Maryland.

Carol

Dundalk, MD

During the phase of a teenage life, teens usually get excited and have fun by starting to explore the world without noticing that they are still a little teenager of probably the age near thirteen to sixteen. Drinking and driving seems to be a new activity that teenagers have begun to explore and for them, this sounds very exciting. You may be aware of the statistics on teenage drunk driving so it’s understandable that your son might just be in an accident in Dundalk, Maryland that is caused by drinking and driving.

Teenagers are so anxious to drink alcohol but majority of them have poor driving skills. The main reason why teens are so eager to drink in this early stage of their lives could be blamed on getting tempted to do so since their friends are into it as well. By being ‘in,’ they think that they could look cool and funky; and even look cooler if they drive after consuming alcohol. Drunk driving is an activity that could be related to excitement but yet so dangerous that can even take one’s life away forever. I know that you are concerned about your son being in an accident and be charged with DUI so you can talk to him and tell him the consequences that he is facing with drunk driving.

I live in Maryland and I usually go out with my friends every Saturday night and have two drinks and not worry about driving home. I always say to myself that I won’t be drunk and therefore, I won’t have any DUI issues. Do you think that what I do is safe?

Garry

Silver Spring, MD

You also might be saying to yourself that you live in America and in this country, we have rights and that we are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and that applies to all cases, even DUI cases in Maryland.

You might want to think twice about that, Garry. First of all, I have to say it is probably not safe to even have two drinks and drive yourself home. Depending on the quality and size of those two drinks, it could be enough to get you in hot water. One lousy drink is enough to get you arrested for DUI in Silver Spring, Maryland. If the police officer smells alcohol on your breath, he is more likely than not going to arrest you for DUI. The standard question that they would ask is, “have you had anything to drink tonight?” If you answer yes, you would have to take some tests to find out if you have been driving under the influence. These are the field sobriety tests and probably you would have a ride to the station. If you answer no and if the police officer smells it, it would have the same result. I am not an advocate of the field sobriety tests or police coordination exercises as others like call them. These tests engineered for you to fail so don’t engage in the officer’s exercises, which they “grade” in order to find a reason for them to arrest you.

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.

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.