As you probably know, police officers in Maryland and virtually everywhere in the U.S. make many DUI arrests each year. Some, if not most, defendants accept their fate and emerge from the ordeal with much less money and community respect than before.
Unfortunately, the immediate and long-term effects of a DUI conviction can plague many parts of your life. For example, you may have trouble finding a job or maintaining cherished relationships.
To answer the question: yes, it is worth it to fight DUI charges, and here are two reasons why.
You could prevail
You generally have two options when charged with a DUI. You can plead no-contest (or guilty) or prepare to fight the charges in court. It might be easiest to enter a plea of no contest, but your record may suffer, and perhaps your reputation, too.
On the other hand, you may have better odds of prevailing than you expect. There are many defense strategies to consider, such as calling out police errors or challenging sobriety test results.
Possible reduced penalties
Experienced guidance may increase your chances of winning. However, if you lose, your counsel can argue to have your penalties reduced. Many who do not prevail in court face less severe penalties than they would have without a fight.
At the very least, you will have your say in court, perhaps moving the judge enough to treat your conviction less severely once they hear your story.
While no guarantees exist, one thing is almost certain. Doing nothing means you might face the harshest consequences possible under Maryland DUI laws.