Due to the very tough driving under the influence laws in the state of Maryland, it is always very wise to hire a DUI Lawyer in Cambridge, MD to help you, even if it is your first DUI. While it is rather unusual, even a first time DUI conviction could result in jail time. Currently, the maximum amount of jail time that a judge can sentence you in a first DUI is one full year. In addition to this very serious consequence, you can also face a driving privileges suspension of at least six months and a fine of $1,000.
Your DUI Lawyer in Cambridge MD can help you fight your DUI charges if you are not guilty of the crime. Even if you are found guilty of the crime, the DUI lawyer may be able to get your penalties and sentence reduced to something that is far below the state maximum. In many situations, the primary difference between a person who got the maximum penalties and a person who got nothing more than minimal penalties and a “slap on the wrist” is their representation. A person who tries to represent themselves in front of the judge simply has no idea how to present their case. They just don’t know the ins and outs of the Maryland DUI laws the way an attorney does, and that may cost them some pretty severe penalties.
In some DUI cases, the charges are much more severe. A second or third DUI conviction will result in jail time that could be anything from a couple of years up to ten years or more. The fines reach into the thousands, and the people who get convicted of more than one DUI will almost always lose their driving privileges for at least a year, and usually for several years or more. With DUI convictions beyond the first one, the judge may even order an Ignition Interlock Device to be placed on the driver’s primary car when they get their drivers license back. This device forces you to submit to a DUI test every time you try to start the car. An experienced DUI lawyer will help you to avoid the most severe of the penalties so that you can get your license – and your life – back again.
