Search results for category: Maryland DUI

Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of August 7

Really odd drunk driving news – 'Multiples'

Two Pennsylvania DUI Arrests in 5 Hours – An unidentified 50-year man was charged with driving under the influence in Lancaster Pennsylvania after causing a minor accident shortly before 11:00 am on a Sunday. He was booked and release to his girlfriend. Just before 4:00 pm he was arrested again for drunk driving after causing a second accident. He was sent to Lancaster County Prison after the second offense.

Two Maryland DUI Arrests in 5 Hours – Jennifer Bowlin was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving in Delaware around 2:15 am after swerving and failing to stop at a stop sign. Five hours after her release the 20-year old seen driving again in Ocean City. Maryland DUI law prohibits a motorist from driving within 12 hours of an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. She was booked for second offense MD DUI and held on $25,000 bond.

Two California DUI Arrests in 5 Days – Witnesses helped California police nab a drunk driver twice in five days. A man filling his gas tank saw Jeffery Kaiserman, 60, pull into the gas station and was barely able to stand while exiting his vehicle. A Petaluma motorcycle officer responded to the scene and made an arrest for driving under the influence in California. Five days later a man called 911 after Kaiserman sideswiped his parked vehicle. The man pursued Kaiserman, observing him strike the curb five times and nearly hit two more parked cars. Kaiserman pulled into the parking lot of the Lucky’s store where he was arrested for CA drunk driving and booked at the Sonoma County Jail.

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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of July 24

Really odd drunk driving news – 'Parallels'

Naked Driver Charged with Florida DUI – Police approached a truck parked on the shoulder of the road because it was partially blocking traffic and they discovered the driver, Dearry Smiley, was naked. Smiley asked the officer, "What's wrong with a man driving home naked? It's not against the law." The arrest report clarified that the 58-year old from DeFuniak Springs wasn't actually naked because he was wearing a hat, sandals and sunglasses. He was, however, considered to be driving under the influence in FL and was arrested. A female passenger, who was clothed, was charged with felony battery after hitting a deputy with her fist as he tried to remove her from the vehicle.

Nearly Naked Driver Charged with Maryland DWI – Police stopped Jonathan Schultz for speeding and discovered he was "driving commando". The 41-year old from Delaware was wearing a shirt and had a towel partially covering his lap. He claimed he had lost his pants and the deputy found none in the vehicle. Schultz was charged with driving while intoxicated in MD.

Heavy Equipment and an Ohio DUI – Robert Tite was arrested for drunk driving in Ohio while operating a bulldozer. He had driven the heavy equipment onto a neighbor's property and uprooted trees while creating a swath of destruction. The 57-year old Huron County man was also charged with criminal damage and resisting arrest.

Heavy Equipment and Drunk Driving Arrest in Germany – After his girlfriend reportedly left him at a nightclub, a 23-year German man decided to steal a large tractor to drive himself home. He lead police on a slow chase for over 40 minutes, resisting officers holding stop signs and pepper spray shot through an open window. The tires proved too thick for stop strips and police finally resorted to shooting out the tires after the man rammed a police car and another vehicle. He was immediately arrested for drunk driving and several other violations.

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Maryland Drunk Driving Laws Strengthened

New legislation increases penalties for DUI in Maryland.

The state legislature has passed a series of bills that will increase the penalties for drunk driving in Maryland.

The Motor Vehicle Administration can now suspend a driver’s license for one year if a driver is convicted of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated more than once in a five year period. A restricted license is available during the suspension period if the motorist installs an ignition interlock device. Even then the driving permit is only applicable for trips to and from work, school or to drug/alcohol treatment.

DWI is charged when a motorist has blood alcohol content between .05-.079%. DUI is charged when the BAC is .08% or higher. A first offense for DWI in Maryland can result in up to two months in jail, a $500 fine and loss of driver’s license for 60 days. A DUI is more severe and can lead to up to one year in jail, up to a $1000 fine and loss of license for a minimum of 45 though longer periods are usually prescribed. A second offense for DUI increases the penalties to a fine of $2000, one year suspension of driving privileges, restricted driving for an additional year and up to two years in jail.

The new legislation also allows the courts to look back ten years for any prior alcohol related traffic offenses before considering probation options and penalties. Anyone caught drinking and driving with an alcohol restriction on their license will be subject to a $500 fine and two months in jail.

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Judge Dismisses Maryland DUI Over E-Ticket Error

Electronic citation has illegal 'duplicitous charges'.

A Baltimore District Judge has dismissed charges of driving under the influence in Maryland filed against Ryan Fox. Fox was stopped for speeding and charged with three DUI related offenses. The electronic ticket issued to him listed 'driving/attempting to drive' before each of the offenses. The inclusion of both phrases means two charges were filed for each offense, and a MD DUI defense attorney successfully argued that that such duplicitous charges are against the law.

The e-citation system replaced use of pen and paper, and it allows a law enforcement officer to swipe a motorist's driver's license and transfer citation information to the district court computer. The motorist is given a print out of the citation. The state police program software provided by the equipment manufacturer, meaning the specific wording is the responsibility of the state. A state police spokesperson says that the there is no problem with the e-citation system, and goes on to clarify that both chief and district court judges have been briefed on the e-ticket process. The Baltimore County State's Attorney says that this is simply lawyers finding a new defense argument, though he said his office will research the issue.

Meng & Alpert, a law firm that focuses on Maryland DUI defense, says that duplicitous charges are nothing new. When pen and paper were used, a trooper would often not properly complete the form or improperly circle an offense.

Additional e-tickets issued for drunk driving in Maryland may be subject to the same ruling. In the case of Ryan Fox, the State's Attorney intends to have the law enforcement officer redo the ticket and then plans to reintroduce the DUI charges.

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Wicomico County State’s Attorney Pleads Guilty to Maryland DUI

Davis Ruark arrested for drunk driving in Ocean City last February.

Davis Ruark plead guilty to MD DUI in Worcester County District Court on Monday. Ruark, the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County, was stopped last February for driving erratically. His blood alcohol content registered .15% and he was charged with drunk driving in Ocean City. After his arrest, Ruark, 52, took a paid leave, entered rehabilitation and later returned to his position part time.

The judge sentenced Ruark to one year unsupervised probation. A twelve point penalty was charged to Ruark’s driver’s license for driving under the influence in Maryland. The prosecutor did not file charges for having a loaded handgun in the county issued vehicle, though Ruark did surrender his gun permit for one year.

The judge warned Ruark that everyone will know if he ‘messes up’ again.

If you were arrested for a MD DUI in Wicomico County or Worcester County, you will need an experienced Maryland DUI Lawyer.

New Drinking And Driving Laws Target Teens

New Drinking And Driving Laws Target Teens

Meteorologist Tim Williams Reporting

(WJZ) There are new and tougher penalties for underage drivers caught drunk behind the wheel. With the laws going into effect this week,WJZ's Tim Williams reports that violators could lose their license for up to a year.

The new laws are cracking down on teen drivers, enacting a double penalty on those who choose alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Jan Withers' 15-year-old daughter Alisa was killed in 1992. She was the passenger in a car driven by a drunk teen driver.

Withers feels the new law will have a dramatic effect. "If they know that combining the lethal effect of alcohol and driving could take away their license," she says, "I think it could prevent them from doing it."

The new law penalizes anyone under 21 convicted of driving under the influence with one year driver's license suspension.

"Traffic's not going to let up over time," says Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich. "Our kids need to be better at an earlier age and that's what these laws are all about."

The new law was approved by the General Assembly in April.

Source: http://wjz.com

Tags: Maryland DUI |  Underage Drinking