Upper Marlboro Criminal Defense Law Blog

Most teenagers know what the legal drinking age is in Maryland. In some cases, the taboo of underage drinking is one of the allures for people below the age of 21 to partake. But this is a dangerous decision that can have awful effects, especially if they are combined with driving or other potentially hazardous activities.

• Is anyone who is drinking below the age of 21 breaking the law?

Although this law covers nearly all instances of underage drinking, there are some exceptions in Maryland law that may be a defense in court. These exceptions largely have to do with larger legal issues like freedom of speech and religion.

• How is freedom of religion part of underage drinking law?

It is never easy to confront charges of violent crimes. The charges may be the results of emotional conflicts, and there may be many factors in an alleged incident. When acts of violence were the results of extenuating circumstances or when they simply did not happen, it can be especially difficult to understand and fight the charges against a person.

People accused of crimes in the state of Maryland may not yet be aware that there are new potential charges and punishments for a specific class of crime. A 24-year-old Baltimore man is charged with violence against a pregnant woman as part of an investigation into a woman's death.

Driving while impaired is probably something many people do without even realizing it. After a couple drinks with dinner, you may feel fine and drive home without any trouble. However, those who have already gone through the ordeal of a DUI arrest may have a good idea of when they have had too much to drink to drive safely.

In a typical year, close to 200 people die in drunk driving accidents on Maryland roads and highways. Thousands more suffer injuries, some of them life-altering. Data shows that those with multiple DUI offenses have a much higher likelihood of being involved in an accident than those who have no previous convictions. In fact, someone with a previous DUI conviction is four times more likely to cause a fatal accident. This is why the laws regarding repeat offenders in this state are getting tougher and the penalties more severe.

When it comes to child custody, courts always look at what's in your son or daughter's best interest. Courts examine a variety of factors to conclude whether a child will be safe in a parent's home. Some of the factors that an Upper Marlboro judge is likely to take into account is the proximity of the parent's house to the child's school and other family members and their living preferences depending on their age. Other considerations include whether the parent has a history of alcohol or drug abuse or domestic violence or if they have any criminal convictions.

Courts want children to have a stable home environment. If there is evidence of domestic violence, discipline issues or drug, alcohol, emotional or physical abuse, then the court may view a parent's home as unsafe. If you, as a parent, have a conviction on your record for drug possession, then the court may presume that you have a drug dependency problem. Driving under the influence (DUI) convictions could lead a Maryland judge to believe that a parent abuses alcohol.