Joining the Program

• After you have consulted with an Anne Arundel County drunk driver lawyer and have determined this is the best option for you, you'll need to make an appointment with a state-certified Ignition Interlock provider to have the device installed. You can find those numbers on your temporary license.

Program Requirements

• In order to continue with the Ignition Interlock program, you'll need to report to an interlock provider regularly to have your results sent to the MVA. Additionally, you must only drive vehicles that are fitted with the Ignition Interlock device.

If you're interested in joining the Ignition Interlock program and want to see if you are eligible, speak with an Annapolis DWI attorney from Jimeno and Gray by calling (888) 903-5514. When you call, ask for your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by lawyer Gregory Jimeno.

If you refused to participate in the breathalyzer or field sobriety tests when you were pulled over for your Maryland DUI, you'll likely have to go to an MVA hearing. During this hearing, the prosecution will attempt to suspend your license. An MVA hearing isn't like a typical court hearing; however, you should still have a Glen Burnie DUI lawyer there to help you try to keep your license.

The Judge

• Although you may think the person who decides whether you'll keep your license at an MVA hearing is an MVA employee, it's not. Actually, the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge, who is employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

The Evidence

• In a typical court case, the prosecution would call witnesses to the stand to give support and evidence that you should lose your license. In a Maryland MVA hearing, however, witnesses are typically never called. Instead, the prosecution uses documentation that is provided by the arresting officer to prove its case. You will still need an Anne Arundel County drunk driving lawyer to help fight for you, even if witnesses aren't speaking against you.

Going into an MVA hearing is stressful and frightening. The good news is that you don't have to fight alone. A Glen Burnie DUI lawyer from Jimeno and Gray will do all he can to help you receive a favorable ruling.

Call (888) 903-5514 to speak with an experienced Maryland DUI attorney and to request your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by lawyer Gregory Jimeno.

If you've been charged with shoplifting in Maryland, you probably have lots on your mind. Dealing with this process is difficult, but you don't have to go through it alone. An Annapolis shoplifting lawyer can give you the support you need and try to get you the most desirable ruling possible. The lawyer can also explain to you what kind of penalties you are facing.

Misdemeanors

• Misdemeanor charges are filed when the shoplifted item is valued at less than $100. For this type of misdemeanor, you could face up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. A crime is also considered a misdemeanor when the item is valued at more than $100, but less than $500. In this case, you may have to serve up to 18 months in jail and pay a $500 fine.

Felonies

• The shoplifting is considered a felony if the item in question is valued at over $500. If charged with a felony, you could face up to 15 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. If you're facing felony charges, you'll need an Anne Arundel County criminal defense lawyer on your side to fight for your rights and try to get you a favorable ruling.

For more information and to speak with an Annapolis shoplifting lawyer about your case, contact the experienced lawyers of Jimeno and Gray at (888) 903-5514.

Do I Have to Have SR-22 Insurance?

• Unfortunately, you are required by Maryland law to have SR-22 insurance after being charged with a DUI. This type of high-risk insurance is often quite expensive and isn't carried by all insurance providers. Check with your existing insurance carrier to see if you can add it to your policy.

Why Do I Have to Have SR-22 Insurance?

• Folks convicted of DUIs in Maryland must have SR-22 insurance in order to have their licenses reinstated. This type of insurance must be on your vehicle for three years in order to get your license back.

Protect your rights and get the most favorable ruling possible by hiring a Columbia drunk driving lawyer. The attorneys at Jimeno and Gray are well-versed in Maryland drunk driving laws and will do all they can to get you the best ruling possible.

For more information and to request a free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by lawyer Gregory Jimeno, call (888) 903-5514.

You Agreed to Being Tested

• You likely don't remember, or may not even know about it, but you agreed to submit to alcohol testing if you were ever pulled over when you received your driver's license. Therefore, when you are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving, you gave the officer your implied consent that you would take the tests when you earned your license.

Are You Upheld to These Laws?

• Although you agreed to submit to testing, you do have to do so and can refuse to. Taking a breathalyzer or submitting blood or urine samples gives the state evidence to convict you of drunk driving. Which is why refusing them is often a good idea. However, doing so puts you in violation with the implied consent laws, which is why you'll need a Howard County DUI lawyer on your side.

Protecting your rights is what we do best. Hiring an experienced Columbia DUI lawyer from Jimeno and Gray can help you get a fair ruling and explain everything that is going on. Call (888) 903-5514 for more information and to request your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by Maryland DUI attorney, Gregory Jimeno.

Thinking of taking a knife or gun with you to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport? Think again. If TSA screeners detect a weapon of some sort on your person or in your luggage, you could face jail time. Anne Arundel County prosecutors take these types of cases seriously and, depending on the weapon involved, will request that those who bring such items to the airport spend time in jail.

As was highlighted in a recent Baltimore Sun article, TSA officials have improved their screening techniques and because of this, are often able to detect weapons. In the last few months alone, they've found knives and guns, along with a variety of different weapons that were disguised as other objects, including a lipstick-shaped container that harbored a blade inside.

If you've been accused of this type of offense, the Anne Arundel County criminal defense lawyers of Jimeno and Gray can help fight for you. Both Gregory Jimeno and Frank Gray are former Anne Arundel County prosecutors. They have prosecuted these types of cases and understand what sort of evidence the State needs in order to secure conviction in these cases. Hiring an attorney with experience in these matters can help you get the best result possible.

If you have any questions regarding this type of offense or have been charged with such, call an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer from Jimeno and Gray at (888) 903-5514.

Water in Your Body

• Alcohol is a water-soluble substance. This means water can dilute or lessen the effects of the alcohol in your body. Typically, the more you weigh, the more water you have in your body. Therefore, people who weigh more tend to take longer to become intoxicated then those who weight less.

Muscles Can Affect Alcohol Absorption

• As you may know, muscle weighs more than fat. Therefore, you could weigh more than a person, but actually have less fat – and less water – in your body than he or she does because of your muscle mass. This means that you may feel the effects of alcohol more because you don't have as much water in your body, even though you weigh more.

A Glen Burnie DUI lawyer is well-versed in Maryland drunk driving laws and may be able to help you with your case.

For more information and to request your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by Glen Burnie DUI attorney, Gregory Jimeno, call Jimeno and Gray at (888) 903-5514.

If you're under the age of 21, you could be affected by Maryland's Zero Tolerance law. You should never drive after you've been drinking no matter what your age, but doing so while under the legal drinking age could get you into serious trouble. If you've been charged with a DUI (driving under the influence) because of the Zero Tolerance law, you'll need to have an experienced Annapolis DUI attorney on your side. Not only can we help defend you, but we can also let you know how the Zero Tolerance law will affect you in the future.

Zero Tolerance DUI Qualifications

• You can qualify for a DUI in Maryland if your blood alcohol level is over .08. However, if you are under the age of 21, you can be charged with a DUI if your blood alcohol level is .02 because of the Zero Tolerance law.

Zero Tolerance Penalties

• The first time you receive a Zero Tolerance DUI, you could have your license taken away from you for six months and could be forced to enter a substance abuse treatment program. If you are charged a second time, your license could be suspended for a year. You could also have to pay fines or spend time in jail.

Getting charged with a Maryland DUI is a frightening and stressful occurrence. If you have an Annapolis DUI attorney from Jimeno and Gray working for you, however, the experience may not be as bad. Let us take some of the stress off of you by explaining the process to you and doing what we can to get you the most desirable ruling possible.

For more information and to speak with a lawyer, call Jimeno and Gray at (888) 903-5514. Be sure to ask for your free copy of the book The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by lawyer Gregory Jimeno.

What Typically Happens When You Run on the Field

• If you happen to make a run for it onto the field, you can expect to be greeted by a bevy of security guards. They will surround and eventually accost you. You'll be taken into a holding cell beneath the field, then transferred to a police station to be booked. Those who run out on the field can also expect to spend a good amount of time in jail and receive criminal charges, as well, which is why you'll need to hire a Maryland criminal defense attorney. 

For more information about hiring a Maryland lawyer, call Jimeno and Gray at (888) 903-5514.

Innacurate Officer's Assessment

• One of the flaws of field sobriety tests is that the results are based on the officer's judgment, which is usually subjective. And although the qualifications for receiving a DUI should be the same for each officer, they can vary.  For instance, one officer could watch a suspect walk down a line and say he is intoxicated, while another could watch the same thing and say the person is fine. If your Maryland DUI lawyer can prove that the officer's assessment was inaccurate at the time of testing, you may get your charges dropped.

Medical Condition

• A few of the field sobriety tests rely on balance. The thinking is that if you are unable to keep your balance, you are likely under the influence. However, certain medical conditions, such as vertigo and inner ear problems, could cause you to become unbalanced. If you and your Annapolis DUI lawyer can prove you have such a condition, you may be able to invalidate your charges.

Lack of Evidence

• DUI charges are typically given on the basis of probable cause. This means the officer has a good suspicion that the driver was under the influence. If you refused to participate in the field sobriety test, the officer actually doesn't have any concrete evidence you were indeed under the influence. And without substantial evidence, your Maryland DUI charge could be dismissed.

Having an experienced Annapolis DUI attorney on your side during this difficult time could make all the difference between being guilty and being let go. The lawyers at Jimeno and Gray will do all they can to prove your innocence and help you fight this charge.

Be sure to call us at (888) 903-5514 to request your free copy of the book, The ABCs of DWIs in Maryland, written by attorney Gregory Jimeno.

• If the officer wants you to partake in a field sobriety or breath test, you don't have to do it. Declining to participate in the tests means the officer will have less evidence against you. However, not taking the tests also looks suspicious. Therefore, make sure you have an experienced Maryland drunk driving lawyer to help you fight your charge.
  

• The blood alcohol level required to receive a DUI varies per person. For instance, the blood alcohol level needed to receive a DUI in Maryland for a person 21 or older is .08. For those under 21,however, the amount needed for a DUI is only .02. And if you're a commercial driver, the level is .04. Therefore, think twice before you get behind the wheel after drinking.
  

• Although you shouldn't lie to the police officer, you also shouldn't incriminate yourself. If you believe you are under the influence and the officer asks if you've been drinking, simply decline to answer. Not revealing how much you've had to drink gives the officer one less thing to charge you with. If you really did only have one drink and aren't under the influence, tell the officer so.
  

• The officer will likely ask you a few questions, such as if you've been drinking. If the officer suspects you have, you'll probably be asked to participate in a field sobriety test or breath-alcohol test. Although you can refuse, you may receive a charge anyway. The officer may also ask to search your vehicle.

• Officers typically either pull over every car that passes through the checkpoint or have a specific pattern they follow. Just because you drive through a checkpoint doesn't mean you will get pulled over; however, you should be prepared.

• Sobriety checkpoints are typically held on holidays that are known for drinking. For instance, officers often hold these checkpoints on New Year's Eve and Fourth of July, in addition to St. Patrick's Day.

• Staying under the radar is important during this time. Getting into more trouble with the law in the form of driving tickets and other offenses will only hurt your case. Driving carefully, not drinking before you drive and obeying traffic laws is your best bet. But if you do get pulled over again, make sure you tell your Maryland DUI lawyer so he or she can do damage control.

• Even if you were under the influence at the time you were pulled over, it’s important to keep that information to yourself. Admitting to anyone, except for your Columbia DUI attorney, that you were at fault is potentially detrimental to your case and could make matters worse for you.

• He or she will give you the facts. You’ll know for sure what you’re up against and what you can expect from the DUI charge process.
• You’ll have experience on your side. You won’t have to fight your charge alone and you’ll have someone who is familiar with the whole process working for you.
• You’ll have someone who knows the court system working for you. This means your chances of receiving a favorable ruling may be increased.
• He or she can help you decide how to plea. Choosing the way in which you want to plea isn’t always so easy. Your lawyer can give you your options and help you choose which works best for your case.

• causing an accident in which another individual sustains injury or serious property damage;
• an additional DUI conviction within the last 7 years;
• driving 20 mph or more over the legal speed limit;
• driving impaired with a minor under the age of 14 in the vehicle;
• a blood alcohol content (BAC) in excess of .2%; and
• refusing to submit to a BAC test. 

• contact a program provider to sign up for a session;
• bring your referral letter to your session; and
• if you lose the referral letter, contact the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office to get a duplicate letter. 

• Major difficulty in getting to work with a suspended license. Depending on someone else for a ride or waiting for public transportation could lead to tardiness. If driving is part of your job duties, you may be fired.
• It can cost you any future jobs that you may seek. Keep in mind that many employers do criminal background checks before hiring employees. They may turn you down if you have convictions, even if you're qualified for the position.
• Your car insurance rates may increase. You will be classified as a high-risk driver, and it may be difficult to find a company that will insure you.  

• plead guilty - by doing so, you admit to everything that you are charged with and you accept the penalties;
• plead not guilty - you do not admit to the charges; you challenge Maryland to prove that you are guilty; and
• accept a plea bargain - this typically is not an option for third-time offenders but depending on your circumstances it may be possible. This could lessen the penalty of jail time and bring about extended probation and other conditions.

• Don’t have more than 1 drink per hour. Your body only metabolizes alcohol at a rate of 1 drink per hour. This is an average and actual values vary from person to person.
• Drink early in the evening, and switch to nonalcoholic drinks later in the night.
• Avoid sobriety checkpoints. Most cities have checkpoints set up over the holiday season, in which they will randomly pull over drivers to check for signs of intoxication. Even if you’ve had only a little to drink, waited the appropriate time, and are under the legal limit, these traps are just that; traps. It’s best to avoid them altogether.
• Use a designated driver. In a group, establish your designated driver, preferably a responsible person who you can trust to stay sober.
• Take a cab. When in doubt, call a taxi service. You can always come back and retrieve your vehicle at a later time. 

If you are stopped for a DUI and are arrested or charged, speak with a drunk driving defense attorney who has handled cases like yours and will help you get on with your life.

Contact Annapolis, Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Lawyers

When you don’t take action to protect your rights after a DUI in Maryland, you can lose them. The DUI Maryland defense lawyers from Jimeno & Gray include former Assistant State’s Attorneys who thoroughly understand and can harness the inner workings of the Maryland criminal justice system. To best protect your rights in the face of a serious criminal charge, contact us today for a consultation – 888-903-5514.