What DUI Enhancements Could You Face in Maryland?

 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.  

A conviction for a first-offense DUI with a minor in the vehicle can result in up to two years in jail and a fine as large as $2,000. A conviction for a second DUI with a minor in the vehicle can result in up to three years in jail and a fine as large as $3,000. A conviction for a third DUI with a minor in the vehicle can result in up to four years in jail and a fine as large as $4,000.

DUI Enhanced Penalties for Multiple DUI Offenses

If you have subsequent DUI offenses after your first DUI conviction, you can expect the penalties to increase in severity. The penalties for a first-time DUI in Maryland include a fine of up to $1,000 and the potential for up to one year in jail; a second DUI conviction doubles those penalties, and a third triples the penalties. If you are convicted of a fourth DUI in less than five years, you will face the same penalties as for a third DUI (up to $3,000 in fines and up to three years in jail) and will also face:

• 12 points added to your driver’s license
• A driver’s license revocation for 18 months
• Mandatory participation in an alcohol or drug abuse counseling program
• Following the revocation period, a 24-month wait time before you can reinstate your license
• Mandatory participation in the Ignition Interlock Program for a year or more
• The likelihood that the judge will impose the maximum sentence

A fifth DUI conviction likely means you were driving without a valid license, so in addition to all the penalties for a fourth DUI, you could also face an additional 12 points added to your license for driving on a revoked license, up to a year in jail (in addition to the jail time for your DUI offense) and a separate fine of up to $1,000.

DUI Enhancement for Severe Bodily Harm or Death

If another person is severely injured or killed because you were driving under the influence, you could have your misdemeanor charge elevated to a felony charge. Penalties for a gross negligence charge include up to ten years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. You will also have a felony conviction on your record, which comes with its own set of consequences.

Contact a Baltimore County, MD DUI Lawyer

Whether you are charged with a straight DUI or there were aggravating factors that triggered enhanced penalties, now is the time to contact a Towson, MD DUI attorney. Attorney Kirk Seaman is trustworthy and experienced and will aggressively defend your DUI charges. When you choose Kirk Seaman, LLC, you can expect a firm with a long history, a stellar reputation, and an attorney with a good relationship with the prosecutors and judges you will face. We are available 24/7, so call 410-837-6077 to schedule your free consultation.