Posted on December 19, 2024 in DUI Defense

The holiday season typically sees more DUI arrests for a variety of reasons. There are more holiday parties where alcohol is served, there are more police officers actively looking for impaired drivers, and people tend to respond to holidays in two ways: joy/excitement or depression/sadness. Either of these responses can lead to drinking more than usual.

According to the Maryland Highway Safety Office, alcohol-impaired drivers cause at least 35 percent of all fatal crashes across the state. Additional sobriety checkpoints, law enforcement training to detect impaired drivers and community awareness campaigns have all been implemented in Maryland to reduce DUI fatalities. Driving while impaired also takes a significant toll on the drivers who are charged with DUI.

A single DUI conviction in the state can lead to fines as large as $1,000, up to a year in jail, a driver’s license suspension, mandatory participation in alcohol education programs, and, in some cases, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device. Even after an individual has paid all these debts, he or she may face many years of extremely high auto insurance rates and difficulty obtaining employment.

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 Posted on November 15, 2024 in DUI Defense

In 2022, there were 14,859 arrests for DUI across the state of Maryland. It can be frightening and anxiety-inducing to be arrested and charged with DUI. Most of those who are charged with DUI have never been in trouble with the law before, so they have little knowledge of what they need to do to ensure the best outcome possible.

First-time DUI offenders are often those who made a one-time mistake and are now facing harsh penalties that could negatively influence the remainder of their lives. If you are facing DUI charges in Maryland, you could benefit from speaking to a Towson, MD DUI attorney from Kirk Seaman, LLC. Your attorney will know how to use mitigating factors to potentially reduce or dismiss your charges or reduce your sentence in the event of a conviction.

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 Posted on October 18, 2024 in 2nd DUI & More

If you are facing DUI charges in Maryland, these charges are severe and have serious penalties. If your DUI triggered an enhancement, your penalties could be more severe, and although most DUI offenses in the state are misdemeanors, you could even face felony charges. If you injure or kill another person while driving under the influence, you could face separate criminal charges or could be sued in civil court.

While a misdemeanor charge is less serious than a felony charge, you could still suffer many negative consequences from a misdemeanor conviction. This is not a situation you should face on your own. Having an experienced Towson, MD DUI attorney who can find potential weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case can be extremely beneficial.

DUI Enhancement for Having a Minor in the Vehicle with You

If you have a minor (under the age of 18) in the car with you when you are stopped and charged with DUI, you are looking at enhanced penalties in the event you are convicted of the DUI offense. Under the Maryland Transp. Code Section 21-902, enhanced penalties result when a person convicted of DUI has a minor in the vehicle at the time of their DUI stop.  

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 Posted on September 30, 2024 in DUI Defense

Maryland recently passed DUI legislation set to go into effect on October 1, 2024. The changes in the new law may affect many Maryland residents facing DUI offenses in the state. Those who are charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance will not be affected by these new laws.

Only those charged with a DUI that involves driving while under the influence of alcohol are potentially affected. If you have been charged with a DUI in the state of Maryland, you must take these charges very seriously, as the penalties can be harsh. Having an experienced Towson, MD DUI attorney by your side from beginning to end can help you have the most positive outcome possible.

Ignition Interlock Changes to Maryland Law

As of October 1, anyone who has been convicted of an alcohol-related DUI offense, received Probation Before Judgment for an alcohol-related DUI offense, or had his or her license suspended as a result of points accumulation for an alcohol-related offense will be required to participate in the ignition interlock program.

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