DUI License Suspensions

A momentary lapse of judgment can lead to overwhelming consequences when a Maryland traffic officer investigates you for DUI. A DUI stop is much more invasive than a stop for speeding or running a red light. The officer may subject you to a series of tests to determine your level of sobriety. From field sobriety tests to chemical assessments, the results may work against you in court and threaten your driving privileges.

Drivers who are believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Maryland must turn over their licenses to arresting officers during DUI stops. In turn, they receive a temporary paper license, which allows them to continue driving for 45 more days. The validation of the temporary permit may be extended through the date of a DUI license hearing, should the defendant request one. They may also learn about the state’s Ignition Interlock Program and how to request a hearing to challenge their license suspension.

You are highly encouraged to do so as it’s the only way to fight for your license after a DUI arrest. Before you request a DUI license suspension hearing, however, team up with a knowledgeable DUI traffic attorney.

Maryland MVA DUI License Suspensions

Anyone who receives a DUI can lose their license in Maryland, even if it’s their first DUI or first criminal offense of any kind. Drivers who are arrested for impaired driving face immediate administrative sanctions from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. If you’re criminally convicted, you may also face an additional license suspension that would start at the end of the administrative ban as part of your sentence.

For How Long Can I Lose My Driver’s License After a DUI Arrest?

DUI license suspension in Maryland can last for several months, and the amount of time depends on the driver’s breath test result. A person with a BAC of over 0.08% but less than 0.15% may have their license suspended for 180 days (6 months) if it’s their first, second, or subsequent DUI offense.

A person with a BAC of 0.015% or higher may have their license suspended for 180 days (6 months) if it’s their first DUI with a high BAC. If it’s their second DUI with a BAC at or above 0.15%, they may lose their license for 270 days (9 months).

Those who refuse a chemical testing before their DUI arrest face a longer license suspension regardless of what their BAC would have been at the DUI stop. Anyone who refuses for the first time may lose their license for 270 days (9 months), while anyone who refuses a blood or breath test for the second or subsequent time can lose their license for two years.

Why You Should Challenge Your DUI License Suspension

Can you imagine your life without being able to drive to get around? Would losing your license affect your employment or your ability to keep your family afloat? For most people, the answer to the latter is “yes.” If you depend on driving to navigate your daily life, you’re urged to request a DUI license suspension hearing as soon as possible after your arrest. You have just ten (10) days after your arrest to formally demand a hearing with MVA to fight the DUI charge and defend your driving privileges.

Should I Enter the Ignition Interlock Program after a Maryland DUI?

The state’s Ignition Interlock Program was established in 1989 to curb the impact of losing a license on those who have yet to be convicted of DUI. The program, managed by the Maryland Department of Transportation, offers drivers an alternative to license suspension or revocation. Through this program, drivers accused of DUI may continue to drive under careful monitoring, which strikes a balance between the state’s need to keep drunk drivers off the streets and accused drivers’ need to drive in order to keep their jobs.

To enroll in the Ignition Interlock Program, you must install an ignition interlock device in your car at your own expense. This device will require you to blow into it to read your BAC each time you turn on your vehicle to ensure sobriety at all times. The form to apply to the program is on the back of the Order of Suspension issued at the DUI stop. The time you will need to participate in the program to regain your full driving privileges varies by your BAC at the time of your arrest.

• A BAC of between 0.08% and 0.15% — you may be enrolled for 180 days.
• If your BAC was at or above 0.15% or you refused to submit to a chemical test — you may be enrolled for one year.

Enrollment in the Ignition Interlock Program may or may not be the best option depending on your situation. By working with a DUI lawyer like Hillel Traub, you’ll learn all your options for fighting a suspension and be able to choose the path that’s right for you.

Choose a Baltimore DUI Lawyer to Challenge Your License Suspension

Whether you’re facing charges for your first or fourth DUI, you can help your case tremendously by working with a skilled DUI attorney who serves Baltimore and surrounding areas. Hillel Traub, founding attorney of The Law Office of Hillel Traub, has fought DUI license suspensions for more than 20 years. As a former Maryland Assistant Attorney General for the MVA, he understands the actions the other side will take against you and can present a sound argument at your DUI hearing. Hillel is passionate about providing quality, personalized representation for people facing trying circumstances.

Speak to Hillel Traub to see how he can help you protect your license after a DUI arrest. Call 410-580-1100 for a free consultation or complete our contact form.