We have all been there before: going out with friends and having a little too much to drink. But when one drink turns to too many and a person gets behind the wheel of a car, there can be dire consequences. If you have been arrested and charged for driving while impaired (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) in or around Columbia, Maryland, a Columbia DUI lawyer can help. Whether this is your first DUI or DWI or this is a repeated mistake, an attorney can evaluate your case, make recommendations for a course of action, and diligently represent you in court proceedings.

Maryland DUIs and DWIs: What Are They and What Do They Mean?

DUI and DWI are two common terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are actually different charges. Whether you will be charged with a DUI or DWI depends on the results of a breathalyzer test, a test administered by a police officer which determines your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In Maryland, if your BAC is between 0.07 and 0.08, you are presumed to be driving while impaired. If your BAC is 0.08 or higher, you are presumed to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Of course, anyone under 21 years of age cannot have any alcohol. Maryland has a zero tolerance policy for anyone under the age of 21 who has been consuming alcohol, which means their BAC cannot be above 0.02. Having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and drinking and driving with minors in the vehicle are additional alcohol-related infractions.

Overall, a DWI is less severe than a DUI, but neither is to be taken lightly in the least. Penalties for both DWIs and DUIs include:

• Jail time of up to one year
• Fines
• Suspension on one’s drivers license
• Community Service
• Alcohol education classes

If you have more than one DWI or DUI, the penalties become more severe; jail time, community service requirements, and fines may all increase. In some cases, a person’s driver’s license may be revoked completely. Naturally, a DWI or DUI conviction can have consequences on your life personally and professionally and can be a formidable obstacle in securing a loan, employment, or the reinstatement of privileges such as obtaining a driver’s license. A DWI and DUI charge can have long-lasting effects and can potentially ruin someone’s life.

Contact Ed Tayter Today

If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, you need to know your options. Contacting a Columbia DUI Lawyer is the first step in handling your case. A Columbia DUI Lawyer can assist you by explaining Maryland DUI and DWI laws in depth, making recommendations for pleadings, and representing you when your day in court arrives. Columbia DUI Lawyers can negotiate for the mitigation or complete dismissal of your DWI or DUI charge and help you get your get your life back on track. We all make mistakes, but we do not have to be punished for them for a lifetime. A, aggressive, hardworking, and knowledgeable Columbia DUI Lawyer can work to avoid this from happening and that your record is not permanently stained.