Maryland Third Offense DUI Lawyer
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and driving while impaired are some of the most common criminal violations. Yet while the maximum penalties for a first offense of DUI include up to a year in jail, seldom will a first offender receive this punishment. Repeat offenses are not looked upon kindly by the courts and therefore if you have been arrested for DUI after two prior arrests, finding a Maryland third DUI lawyer is imperative. Call today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case with a DUI attorney in Maryland.
Penalties for a Third DUI in Maryland
Maryland considers DUI per se to be driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater. In some cases, a driver may be criminally charged with an even lower BAC. A first offense of DUI is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and driver’s license suspension. However, a third offense DUI defense attorney in Maryland can negotiate much lighter sentencing—even probation instead of jail.
Maryland DUI law strengthens penalties for subsequent DUI convictions, and if someone is facing a third DUI charge within 5 years of a prior DUI or DWI conviction, it is important to find a repeat DUI lawyer who can help them avoid the maximum penalties of conviction.
Third DUI penalties in Maryland include the following:
- Up to 3 years in prison
- A fine of up to $3,000
- Administratively, 12 points may be assessed with the MVA and the driver’s license may be revoked
Additionally, a repeat DUI can lead to minimum jail terms, driver’s license suspension, installation of an ignition interlock device and monitoring at the driver’s expense, alcohol and drug counseling or treatment, probation, high-risk insurance, and more. When charged as a repeat DUI offender, finding competent legal representation from a Maryland third DUI lawyer can help those avoid wrongful conviction or minimize any legal penalties associated with a repeat DUI conviction.
Building a Defense
The lawyer will break this down or, again, forget that there were prior DUIs. They will focus on the actual laws and the setup of what this officer observed and what they saw in terms of coming across the vehicle or the individual and how they processed everything that they have done, step by step on the NHTSA hand manuals. It is important here that they are addressing it the same way the officer would.
If the attorney can show that there is reasonable doubt, they certainly can win. Attorneys have to effectively represent all the interests of their client and that means even knowing that there may be a plea offer that is reasonable on the table.
An attorney will give their client all the information that they need to be successful and make a decision and then they make the decision to take it to trial or to consider a plea. However, the judges on a conviction or a plea are probably not going to be forgiving. There are several jurisdictions in the state of Maryland that will give a minimum of six months in jail on a third offense.
Contacting a Maryland Third DUI Lawyer
Do not hesitate to get the legal help and representation you need following a third DUI arrest. Our Maryland 3rd DUI lawyers are here to fight for you. The consequences of a DUI can be very harsh, especially if it is your third-time offense. This puts, even more, stress on the importance of hiring a highly skilled and experienced DUI lawyer as soon as the charge is given, so they can start crafting a strong defense case and gathering conductive evidence.