If you get arrested on DUI charges in Maryland, there’s a chance that you could lose your driver’s license. This can be a significant impediment to the rest of your life, perhaps making it impossible for you to work.
As such, one thing that you may want to consider is the ignition interlock program. This has been used in Maryland since 1989, and some DUI offenders can immediately apply for it when they find out that their driver’s license is going to be revoked or suspended.
How does the program help?
An ignition interlock device is essentially a breath test that is connected to your vehicle. You must pass the test to show that you are completely sober before driving your car.
The benefit to you is that enrolling in this program may mean that you get your driver’s license back much sooner. The state monitors the program to ensure that you don’t violate the restrictions. But this gives you a chance to drive sooner, if you can commit to staying sober.
The length of the program depends on why you were arrested. If you had a breath test that was under 0.15% but over the legal limit of 0.08%, then you need to enroll in the program for 180 days. If your BAC was over 0.15%, then you will be enrolled for a year. The same year-long program is used if you refused the breath test in the first place.
Exploring your options
As you can see, there are many different options when facing DUI charges. It’s important to know how they work, and it can be helpful to work with an experienced law firm at this time.