Posted on May 13, 2024 in Felony DUI

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a severe offense. It is usually treated as a misdemeanor in Maryland, and an individual may face penalties like fines, license suspension, and community service.

However, there are situations where a DUI can elevate to a felony, resulting in harsher consequences. Understanding the situation can help you make responsible decisions and avoid a more serious charge.

When does a DUI become a felony?

The key factor that bumps a DUI misdemeanor up to a felony is when the accident causes serious injury or death. If an individual driving under the influence severely hurts or kills someone, they might face felony charges for crimes like vehicular assault or manslaughter. These charges may come with significant jail time, hefty fines and a permanent mark on their criminal record.

While a high blood alcohol content (BAC) is not enough to automatically turn a DUI into a felony, it can increase the severity of the charges, especially if combined with other factors. Maryland has a standard BAC limit of .08, but a BAC of .15 or higher can be considered an aggravating factor in a DUI case. If the driver is under 21 years old and their BAC is .02 or higher, they may face serious DUI charges.

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 Posted on May 07, 2024 in Defensa penal

Nadie está exento de sufrir una agresión física en cualquier momento o lugar. En la calle, en el estacionamiento, en un centro comercial, o incluso directamente en un domicilio, el ataque puede presentarse de forma inesperada, sin que pueda prevenirse. Por tal razón, es imprescindible conocer cómo defenderse ante una eventualidad. En Estados Unidos prevalece el principio de la autodefensa, o defensa personal legítima, donde cada estado establece sus principios legales al respecto.

¿En qué casos se aplica la autodefensa ante una agresión en Maryland?

En Maryland la autodefensa legal tiene su sustento en una Ley común (Common Law). Se trata de un sistema de leyes que tiene su origen en los tribunales y se actualiza con base en casos judiciales. Es decir, proviene directamente de las cortes, y no atraviesa ningún derrotero legislativo para su aprobación.

De acuerdo con lo establecido por el estado de Maryland, la defensa personal es legítima solamente en los siguientes casos (enlace en inglés):

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 Posted on May 06, 2024 in Underage Drinking

A driving under the influence (DUI) charge can hurt an adult’s future and, even more so, a child’s. As a parent, it’s important to know what can happen to your child with an underage DUI conviction. Although this might seem intimidating, the purpose here isn’t to scare you. It’s about educating and preventing an issue before it starts.

By understanding this, you’re taking a big step to help your child avoid serious mistakes, including those that might be uncomfortable to discuss.

Impact on education

A DUI conviction can significantly affect your child’s educational opportunities. Take college admissions, for example. Colleges and universities often ask about criminal convictions as part of their application process. If your child has a DUI on their record, it could limit their opportunities for admission.

Even if they gain acceptance, the conviction might impact their eligibility for scholarships or participation in specific programs or extracurricular activities. Suddenly, your child’s dream school might feel out of reach.

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 Posted on May 04, 2024 in DUI Charges

If a driver is suspected by police of driving under the influence, Maryland police officers have a few different ways to tell if the driver is impaired. Most of the time, the officer will ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and take field sobriety tests. Field sobriety tests are assessments conducted by officers to gauge a person’s sobriety. The Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), is made up of three different tests that evaluate an individual’s ability to execute tasks correctly.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN)

The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is the involuntary jerking of a person’s eye when it goes to the side. Alcohol use will exacerbate the jerking movements. To administer the test, an officer will ask the driver to follow a moving object with their eyes. The officer will look for involuntary jerking of the driver’s eyes.

Walk and turn

The walk-and-turn test is used to gauge balance. The officer will ask the driver to take at least nine steps heel-to-toe in a straight line, then turn on one foot before repeating the process in the opposite direction. The driver may also be asked to count aloud with each step.

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 Posted on April 29, 2024 in Cargos DUI

Conducir bajo la influencia del alcohol o las drogas (DUI), ya sean sustancias ilícitas o medicamentos recetados, es un delito que no debe tomarse a la ligera. En Maryland, como en muchos otros estados, las consecuencias legales de un primer delito pueden ser severas y duraderas.

Si usted o alguien cercano ha sido detenido por primera vez bajo la sospecha de DUI, es crucial tomar acciones inmediatas y estar informado sobre las posibles repercusiones. En Maryland, una primera ofensa (enlace en inglés) por DUI puede acarrear hasta un año de cárcel y multas de hasta $1,000. Incluso, las consecuencias podrían agravarse si durante la detención se encontrara presente un menor, con posibles consecuencias de hasta dos años de prisión y $2,000 en multas.

Impacto de un primer DUI y pasos a seguir

El procedimiento inicia cuando la policía lo detiene. Si el agente sospecha que ha consumido alcohol o cualquier otro tipo de sustancia, se le podría aplicar una prueba de sobriedad que podría concluir en su arresto y trasladado a una estación. De ser arrestado, es vital que no oponga resistencia y haga uso de su derecho a permanecer en silencio y a solicitar un abogado.

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 Posted on April 18, 2024 in Field Sobriety Tests

When police officers in Maryland stop a driver whom they suspect is impaired, they may ask the driver to take a series of field sobriety tests. These standardized field sobriety tests are utilized by officers to gauge a person’s impairment due to alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement agencies can use field sobriety test results to establish probable cause for DUI arrests, so many people assume that the tests are infallible and accurate. However, these tests are not 100% accurate. 

Accuracy of field sobriety tests 

In the late 1970s, a study was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Southern California Research Institute (SCRI) to evaluate the accuracy of dozens of field sobriety tests. In the study, the SCRI asked 10 officers to watch subjects perform various tests. After viewing the subjects, they asked the officers to decide whether the participants had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .10 or higher.  

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 Posted on April 08, 2024 in Manejar ebrio

Cuando una persona es detenida por sospecha de conducir bajo la influencia del alcohol o drogas (DUI por sus siglas en inglés), el proceso legal que sigue puede ser complejo y abrumador. Es fundamental conocer los pasos que involucra este procedimiento para estar mejor preparado para el largo camino que lo espera.

Las etapas iniciales del proceso de DUI

El proceso comienza con la detención por parte de la policía, que puede requerir la realización de pruebas de sobriedad en la calle. Si el oficial tiene motivos para creer que está bajo la influencia de alcohol u otra sustancia embriagante, o si usted se niega a tomar una prueba de alcoholímetro, usted puede ser arrestado y llevado a una estación de policía (enlace en inglés).

No resista el arresto; aun así, es esencial que usted invoque su derecho de permanecer en silencio y su derecho de tener un abogado a su lado. No diga nada a la policía que pueden usar contra de usted durante su interrogación hasta que llegue su abogado.

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 Posted on March 31, 2024 in DUI Charges

Anyone from all walks of life here in Maryland and across the nation can occasionally make a mistake. No matter one’s status in society, if that mistake involves driving while under the influence of alcohol, the potential consequences could be life-altering. Fortunately, there is professional support available to everyone who suddenly faces DUI and other related criminal charges no matter the unique circumstances of the arrest. 

Prominent reality television star Karen Huger of the Real Housewives of Potomac is facing criminal charges after recently wrecking her vehicle. The incident took place late on a Tuesday night in Montgomery County. Law enforcement alleges that Huger’s vehicle went over a median before striking two different traffic signs. Her vehicle reportedly suffered extensive damage, leaving it inoperable. 

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 Posted on March 21, 2024 in DUI Charges

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an ongoing and very concerning problem in Maryland. Every year, hundreds of people are injured or killed in accidents caused by impaired or drunk drivers. Law enforcement agencies across the state are increasing patrols and conducting frequent DUI checkpoints to keep roads safe and combat drunk driving in Maryland. 

Recent DUI crackdown 

Recently in Montgomery County, law enforcement agencies conducted a DUI crackdown over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The crackdown was spearheaded by officers from the Montgomery County Police Department along with troopers from the Maryland State Police. Reports said officers made a total of 13 DUI arrests and one criminal arrest over the weekend while making 82 traffic stops. 

Officers said they also issued 129 traffic citations, 64 traffic warnings and 21 safety repair orders during the crackdown. Reportedly, this data does not include arrests made by patrol officers on duty and only includes arrests made by saturation patrol detail officers. Therefore, police said the total number of DUI arrests made over the weekend is likely higher. 

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 Posted on March 14, 2024 in DUI Charges

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is illegal – it’s also incredibly dangerous. Yet, every year, thousands of drivers in Maryland are arrested for driving impaired. These accusations can not only have disastrous impacts on a person’s life for many years but could also result in jail time. In Maryland, drivers can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). There are a few key differences that determine whether a driver will receive a DUI or a DWI charge. 

Comparing DWI and DUI charges 

In this state, when a driver is arrested and suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol there are two possible offenses recognized by the law. These are DUI and DWI. DWI is the lesser of these two offenses.  

Drivers can be charged with DWI if the evidence suggests the driver was impaired to some degree by alcohol or drugs, which also includes legal drugs. Drivers can be charged with DUI, a more serious offense, if they are impaired by a controlled substance or have a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. It is also important to note that Maryland drivers who are under the age of 21 are also subject to zero tolerance laws, which means they can be charged if their BAC is .02 or higher. 

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