Silver Spring Maryland Criminal Defense Legal Blog

You already have one or two DUI offenses on your record. You know that if you get another one, the consequences will are pretty steep. Well, Maryland police recently pulled you over for suspected DUI and now you are facing another DUI charge. What can you do?

The penalties for repeat offenders can be significant. There are administrative and criminal penalties that can hurt you personally and professionally for years to come. This is why the next steps you take to address your current situation matter.

What does luck have to do with field sobriety tests? More than you think. That's because the three tests that make up the Standardized Field Sobriety Test rely on the observations of the officer administering them. As you can imagine, if the officer pulled you over on suspicion of drunk driving, the odds are already against you.

Research shows that several officers trained in administering the SFST come up with different conclusions when observing the same video tape of an individual taking the tests. Some officers said that the individual was impaired while others did not. The fact of the matter is that you could flip a coin to decide whether the officer administering your tests will think you are impaired and arrest you.

You have just been taken into custody for drinking and driving and you cannot stop worrying about how this incident will affect you in the short term and long term. Will your face appear in the local news, and will you lose your job or have trouble landing another job in the future?

Impaired driving is illegal in every state, including in Maryland, and can lead to serious consequences. Here is a rundown of what Maryland law says about drinking and driving.

Make no mistake about it—distracted driving is a major hazard on Maryland roadways. While state laws prohibit driving while operating a cell phone without a hands-free device, the truth is that vehicles present several other forms of distraction that the law doesn’t always account for.

In order to keep  Maryland's roads safe, it’s important to do your part to cut down on all avenues of distracted driving. By following a few simple best practices, you can be more attentive while behind the wheel, thereby decreasing your chances of being involved in accident. Here are five helpful tips for avoiding distracted driving: