Posted on July 14, 2023 in English

In Maryland and across the country, being convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense. Those convicted of DUI face stringent penalties that may include mandatory jail time, strict fines and often a period of probation. Even more serious situations can result in an aggravated DUI case. This can mean enhanced criminal penalties and increased sentences for those convicted.

What is an aggravated DUI? 

If an individual is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing other offenses, he or she could be charged with aggravated DUI. Although a DUI is a serious offense, Maryland and many other states classify it as a misdemeanor — at least for most first-time offenders. If there are aggravating factors at the time of the incident, the DUI could be increased to a felony. This more severe charge also means more severe penalties for those convicted.

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 Posted on June 30, 2023 in English

Around the country, more and more states are legalizing the use of recreational marijuana. Maryland will soon be among these states as marijuana becomes legal here in July. However, even though marijuana has become legal in some states, it is important to remember that driving while under the influence of marijuana is still illegal in every state.

Police conducting sobriety tests for driving while high

Since marijuana will soon be legal in Maryland, police are bringing awareness to the public that driving while high is dangerous and also illegal. Police said if they suspect a driver is under the influence of marijuana, they will do field sobriety tests just like they do for drunk driving stops. Officers noted that if drivers fail these tests, they will be arrested.

If a driver is arrested, he or she may also be subjected to drug tests once they get to the police station. According to police, drivers who are under the influence of marijuana and fail sobriety tests will be charged with a drug-related DUI and will be required to go through the court process. Penalties for a conviction can be severe, with offenders possibly serving anywhere from 60 days to one year in jail.

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 Posted on June 16, 2023 in English

When police officers in Maryland suspect a driver of being impaired, they usually administer field sobriety tests. These tests are used by officers to help determine probable cause to make an arrest. The Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) used by officers around the country is comprised of three different tests.  

Horizontal gaze nystagmus  

In the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, the driver is asked by an officer to follow a moving object, usually a flashlight or pen, slowly from side to side. When a person’s eyes are rotated at high peripheral angles, an involuntary twitching occurs, known as horizontal gaze nystagmus. This twitching of the eyes is more exaggerated when an individual is intoxicated.

One-leg stand  

The one-leg stand test is used to gauge a driver’s balance. The driver is asked by the officer to stand on one leg with the other foot about six inches off the ground. The officer will ask the driver to count from 1001, 1002, and so on until the officer ends the test.

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 Posted on May 27, 2023 in English

Drunk driving continues to plague Maryland and the entire country. Police forces across the state are ramping up efforts to combat drunk driving. Although being arrested and charged with DUI can be embarrassing and leave the individual filled with anxiety, a DUI charge is simply an accusation – not a conviction.

DUI crackdown

Maryland State Police in Berlin recently announced that they are planning to increase efforts to combat impaired driving this summer. Officers say the initiative aims to make roadways safer and curb driving under the influence. According to reports, there will be a heightened police presence in Worcester County every Saturday throughout the month of June.

Reportedly, the increased enforcement efforts will focus on finding and apprehending intoxicated or impaired drivers. Maryland law enforcement authorities noted that drunk driving significantly threatens public safety by causing preventable accidents and loss of life. With this initiative, police say they are sending a message that driving under the influence will not be tolerated and those who break the law will face consequences.

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 Posted on May 13, 2023 in English

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense in Maryland and elsewhere. In most cases, when officers suspect a driver of being impaired, they will try to administer several field sobriety tests. The results of these field sobriety tests are often used as evidence for charging a driver with DUI. However, field sobriety tests are not always accurate. Regardless, even if a person has not been drinking but still performs poorly on the field sobriety tests administered by officers, he or she may still be arrested.

How accurate are field sobriety tests? 

Field sobriety tests usually consist of three exams: walk and turn, the one-leg stand and horizontal gaze nystagmus. Standardized field sobriety testing was first implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, when the NHTSA first recommended these tests, they were only about 47% accurate in showing if a driver was over the legal limit.  

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 Posted on April 30, 2023 in English

Few things are as embarrassing as being pulled over, handcuffed and accused of drunk driving. To make matters worse, individuals who are arrested for driving under the influence in Maryland can face public humiliation as they typically appear in local media outlets, newspapers and websites. The humiliation of being arrested combined with the stress of facing serious DUI charges is enough to shatter even the strongest person. However, even though a DUI charge can be stressful and embarrassing, it does not constitute a criminal conviction.

Recently in St. Mary’s County, a driver was arrested and now faces DUI charges, along with other offenses. The incident happened on Three Notch Road near Mervell Dean Road. According to police reports, an officer noticed a vehicle, and as he approached it, he found the driver unresponsive.

Reports said the officer investigated the scene and suspected the driver of being under the influence of alcohol. Reportedly, the officer claims to have noticed what he suspected to be cannabis in plain sight. The driver was arrested and charged with DUI and several other traffic citations, along with a criminal citation for CDS: Possession of Cannabis Over Civil Use, reports said.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in English

Being handcuffed and thrown into the back of a Maryland police car is a scenario that nobody wants to experience. Those who receive a DUI charge may face steep fines as well as incarceration to go along with the humiliation they may be feeling. When someone gets hit with DUI charges, it does not necessarily mean that he or she will be convicted.

Driver injured and arrested

Recently in Hellertown, a woman was seriously injured after colliding with a utility pole. She now faces DUI charges. The accident happened during the evening hours near the 1600 block of Main Street. According to police reports, the woman was driving along Main Street when her vehicle struck a utility pole that was beside the roadway.

Reports said the woman was hurt in the crash and was taken to a local medical center for treatment. Allegedly, police obtained a blood sample from the woman which reportedly showed a blood alcohol content that was over the legal limit. The woman was arrested, charged with DUI and also received traffic citations, authorities said.

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 Posted on April 02, 2023 in English

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is illegal, and it’s also reckless. Those convicted often face steep penalties, even including jail time. When police make a traffic stop and need to determine if a driver has been drinking, officers usually initially rely on a Breathalyzer test. However, these tests are not always accurate and can give false readings. Nevertheless, if a driver takes a Breathalyzer test and gets a false reading, a DUI charge will likely follow.

What can cause a false reading?

Acetone is one cause of false Breathalyzer readings. When the body breaks down food, acetone can be a byproduct. It has a fruity or sweet odor and commonly exists in the breath of anyone. Research has shown that people with hypoglycemia may have more acetone in their breath.

Also, diabetics often receive false breathalyzer readings. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 23 million people in the United States have diabetes, and around five million of them are not even aware that they have it. A person with diabetes can have high enough levels of acetone in their breath to give Breathalyzer readings of .06. Certain diets as well as fasting may also cause higher levels of acetone in a person’s breath.

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 Posted on March 25, 2023 in English

A charge of driving under the influence of alcohol can cause a person many sleepless nights. Just being accused of DUI can be stressful and even humiliating, often causing damage to a person’s reputation. That’s particularly true for public servants, including police officers. A conviction usually comes with significant penalties, although being accused of DUI does not necessarily mean the accused individual will be convicted.

Crash blamed on drunk driving

Recently in Severna Park, a detective was charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a crash. The accident happened at night near Gov. Ritchie Highway and Jones Station Road shortly before 8:30 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day. According to reports, authorities responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash and found a vehicle that had hit a road sign.

After speaking with the driver, officers reportedly observed signs of impairment and placed the man under arrest. Apparently, the driver is a 15-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and recently worked as a detective with the Criminal Investigation Division. Reports indicated that he also received other traffic-related offenses. Reportedly, the officer has been suspended with pay pending an investigation.

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