Baltimore DUI Enforcement
In Baltimore, DUIs are a very high area of focus for law enforcement officers. Officers put a lot of time and energy into the state by advertising for you not to drink and drive and whenever they’re going to invest that much time and money, officers are certainly going to come out in full force to make sure these laws are followed. The State has been as straightforward as possible, in making information readily available for people to understand that is unacceptable and to warn them that law enforcement is looking for signs of drivers who may be under the influence and that they will follow through with any suspicions by stopping your vehicle.
With this attitude in mind, it is important that if charged you contact an experienced Baltimore DUI lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case and begin preparing a defense.
DUI Are a Law Enforcement Priority in Baltimore
It’s important for the greater public safety. There has been a push over the years from agencies that have been involved in stopping drinking and driving, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving as well as through the media. The attention in the media is paid to people who have been charged, convicted and penalized for a DUI conviction. Very little is given to those who’ve been acquitted.
Baltimore County DUI charges aren’t so unique from other counties as there’s a high level of enforcement in Baltimore County. It’s a large county with several colleges and therefore there’s a focus on the younger individuals who are driving.
DUIs have always been a particular focus of the media as the most egregious usually have a story line that includes severe injuries and loss of life. With vehicles being accessible to just about anyone and alcohol being accessible to just about everyone, it continues to be a common problem. The combination draws immediate attention and, fortunately, we see very prominent people as well as just regular people being charged in a regular basis.
The pressure behind officers getting out there and writing these DUI citations, showing that law enforcement is strong and can lead to officers pulling people over for less than adequate reasons and some that should not have even been stopped at all.
As a result, a majority of people believe that if they’re stopped for an alleged DUI and questioned by an officer, they should refuse the field sobriety test and/or the breath test. Generally, this immediately leads to the issuance of DUI and DWI citations.
DUI Tests in Baltimore County
The PBT, the preliminary breath test, that’s done on the road and is not an admissible breath test. Some people believe that if they refuse that roadside test, then they will be refusing all tests. This is untrue. You may very well agree to take a PBT and while this gives an officer an idea of where your breath may be, it is not something that would be admissible in court. The formal breath test that you would take at a station or barracks on the Intoximeter machine, done by a trained chemist who certifies the results, is the admissible evidence.
The standard field sobriety tests are recognized as the reliable tests for DUI’s under the Nations Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Most people understand that it includes: follow the pen, walk and turn around and/or stand on one foot. Some officers are still using letters and numbers, the touching of your finger to your nose and the tips of your fingers to your thumb as additional tests. The standard trio, however, is following the pen (which is the HGN test), the Walk and Turn (which is walk in line, turning, and walking back), and standing on one leg.
These are the three that can suggest, based on your overall score, an elevated likelihood of alcohol or drugs in your system.