Bowie Defense Attorney Protecting the Rights of Repeat DUI Offenders

Representing clients arrested for repeat DUI offenses in Crofton and throughout Maryland

Drunk driving is a massive challenge to public safety. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that “there were 10,497 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, an average of 1 alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 50 minutes. These alcohol impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 28 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States in 2016.”  Repeat DUI offenders are responsible for a portion for those crashes and deaths.

At Carey Law Office, we are here to protect your rights and build a strong defense on your behalf regardless of the severity of the DUI charges against you. We offer a confidential consultation in our Bowie or Crofton offices to discuss your case right away.

Administrative penalties for DUI repeat offenders

MVA penalties are separate from criminal penalties. If you are convicted of a DUI, you are sentenced and fined by a state or federal court. However, the judge of that criminal court cannot control whether or not you keep your driver’s license.

Administrative law judges (ALJs) handle license suspension and revocation. This is why, if you refuse a breathalyzer test and your DUI charges are dropped, your license may still be suspended for the refusal; MVA penalties and criminal penalties have no bearing on each other.

According to the MVA, a repeat DUI offender’s driver’s license will be suspended for 270 days, OR he or she can have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in his or her vehicle for one year, at his or her expense. For a third offense, the license suspension is two years OR two years with an IID installed. Repeat DUI offenders are not entitled to a work permit license, the way some first time DUI offenders are.

For each DUI conviction, the MVA will add 12 points to your license. For each DWI conviction, the MVA will add 8 points to your license.

If you are charged with DUI/DWI while transporting a minor, or caused a life-threatening injury or death, the penalties will be more severe.

What is an ignition interlock device (IID)?

An IID is designed to prevent drunk driving but does not prevent sober drivers from being able to operate a vehicle. If a driver has been sentenced to install an ignition interlock device, he or she is not legally allowed to drive any other vehicle. An IID uses a breathalyzer to measure the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The device will prevent the vehicle from starting if the driver’s BAC exceeds the legal limit. The daily test results are tracked and stored and the IID service provider reviews the data every month.

If a person has been assigned to use an ignition interlock device, he or she is responsible to pay all the costs required. The penalty for violating the ignition interlock law is 2 months in jail, and/or a fine up to $500. MD Transp Code § 21-902.2 (2017).

Clients of Carey Law Office have an advantage when it comes to installing an ignition interlock device. Because our firm has a close working relationship with one of the major IID installing companies in Maryland, we have secured a special installation rate only available for our clients. If you choose our firm to represent you, you can bring a copy of your form to the IID installer, who will waive the cost of installation (about $150) and the first month’s maintenance fee (about $75), savings you up to $225 on the entire system.

Criminal penalties for repeat drunk driving convictions

The criminal penalties for a repeat DUI offender (with a BAC of 0.8 or higher) is anywhere from 5 days to two years in jail, and it increases to between 10 days and up to three years for a third offense. The fine for a second DUI is $2,000, and $3,000 for a third (and all subsequent) DUI offense.

The penalty for a second DUI with children in the vehicle is up to three years. For a third or subsequent DUI offense in which a child is present in the vehicle, the penalty can be as high as four years in jail, with fines up to $2,000.

If you are not sent to jail, you may be required to undergo treatment at an inpatient center, or you could be subject to home detention in which case you will be monitored via an ankle bracelet.

How can a Bowie DUI defense attorney help when you are facing repeat DUI charges?

When you are facing the serious consequences of a repeat DUI conviction, a Bowie DUI defense attorney can protect your rights and offer sound legal guidance. We investigate every piece of your case to put together the best strategy for you, including your interaction with police during the traffic stop and any other contact with law enforcement. As highly seasoned legal professionals, we have raised many defenses to create reasonable doubt. For instance, blood test results and other pieces of evidence can be challenged to weaken the prosecutor’s case.

The consequences of a DUI are significant. If you want to protect your rights and your future, work with an experienced Bowie criminal defense lawyer with more than 37 years of experience defending the rights of the accused.

Schedule a consultation with a skilled Bowie criminal defense attorney right away

If you have been charged with a repeat DUI offense, do not sit back and let your future rest in the hands of the prosecution. Just because you were accused does not mean you will automatically be convicted. When you are ready to fight, Carey Law Office is here to stand with you. We have offices in Bowie and Crofton, and we serve clients throughout Maryland. Please schedule your consultation, by calling 301-464-2500 or filling out this contact form now.