Penalties for a first DUI include up to a year in jail, up to $1,000 in fines, and a license suspension of at least six months. A third offense means up to three years in jail, up to $3,000 in fines, and a minimum of 18 months in jail. Anyone 21 and older who is caught driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08% can be arrested for a DUI. If they are under 21 or driving a commercial vehicle, this amount is lowered.
Once a person is arrested and charged with a DUI, they’re going to want to hire a DUI lawyer in Cambridge, MD. DUI charges can be dismissed due to a lack of evidence even if the person had their BAC tested at the scene or they failed a sobriety test, but the lawyer is going to want to work quickly to do this. They might have the person submit to a second BAC to prove the one used by the officer was faulty or not properly calibrated. They might notice that the officer did not have probable cause to stop the person, therefore evidence from the stop cannot be used in court.
The type of defense used by a lawyer and the chance of success is going to depend on the circumstances of the case. Each case is different, so there’s no way to predict the outcome of a case. A person will need to hire a DUI lawyer in Cambridge, MD quickly to see what their options are and to see if there’s a possibility of the charges being dismissed or lowered. Even if there isn’t, there may still be quite a bit the lawyer can do to help the person avoid the maximum penalties.
Hiring a lawyer is not something to be avoided; in fact, it’s going to be essential if a person wants to avoid the maximum sentence for the crime they’re accused of. A judge isn’t going to go easy on the person just because they went ahead and plead guilty without a lawyer. Be sure to visit the website of a DUI lawyer if you have been arrested so you can get the help you need to obtain a better outcome for your case.
