License After a Maryland Second Offense DUI

Depending on factors of each case, chances are individuals facing penalties after a second offense DUI in Maryland are going to end up with a suspended license and an enrollment in the ignition interlock program. MVA is going to send the person a letter or divert them to a driver wellness or driver wellbeing assessment of some type. They are going to want the person to go through alcohol education. They are going to want to know that the person is now a safe driver or a safer driver who is making better decisions. They are careful in what they allow on a second offense and further from there.

If you are facing penalties for a second DUI charge in Maryland, it would be in your best interest to consult with a highly experienced DUI lawyer. They will represent you well in court and can help get your charges lowered or even dropped.

Court Treatment

Courts are very harsh on second offense DUI charges and particularly on people’s rights to their freedom to drive and their license after a second offense DUI in Maryland. When a person is in front of a judge on a second offense and it is less than ten years, they will need to justify their actions to the judge. The penalties can be substantial.  They usually reflect on what is found at the scene or what the officer discovers in their investigation.

If it is an accident and it is a second offense, it is fair to tell clients that a person should have a discussion about possible incarceration and effects on their license following. If it is not and a person is eight or nine years apart, certainly, there are judges that are willing to listen and hear the person out if they have put in the effort of alcohol education and get a good attorney with the person. Avoiding a maximum sentence and jail time is a difficult job, so it is very important to hire an experienced DUI attorney.

Ignition Interlock Option

Ignition interlock through the MVA is if you are in a vehicle, you have got to be sober. If you are going to drive, park, or shift, blow into the ignition interlock device to start the vehicle while you are driving. That is how they view things and it certainly comes with an added expense because there are a monthly fee and an installation fee to all of the ignition interlock devices.

Suspension of a License

Depending on the length of time between a person’s first and second DUI, there is certainly more at stake with regards to the license itself. That is if it is within a certain period of time or a repeat offense, a person is likely to end up on ignition interlock.  They can certainly do straight suspensions but the interlock program allows the ability to keep driving. It is not likely on a second offense that the person’s license would be revoked in some fashion even on a conviction but it is likely that they will continue for an extended period of time on ignition interlock.

Facing license suspension can be detrimental to an individual’s way of life, as it can affect their day to day business. It makes it more difficult for them to be able to get to work, school, or chauffeur their children around. It is important to combat any instance of license suspension before facing serious penalties.

Contacting an Attorney

The penalties for a DUI can be very harsh, especially if it is your second offense. If you have been charged with a DUI for the second time, it is very important that you consult with a skilled DUI lawyer as soon as possible, so they can start building a strong defense for you early on to help you understand and combat the restrictions on your life and your license after a second offense DUI in Maryland.