When a person is found to be driving under the influence, it is imperative they seek help from a DUI attorney in Salisbury, MD. Attempting to defend DUI charges without the help of an attorney can be a fruitless and exasperating process. With this information, defendants will better understand how they can work with their attorney to properly defend their charges and make the process easier to go through.
What Happens When Someone Is Charged with a DUI in Maryland?
It is important for individuals to understand how serious a DUI charge is. Like other states in the Union, Maryland is cracking down on DUI incidences and has even increased first-time offense penalties. When someone is charged with a first-time DUI in the state, they could lose their license for up to six months. At the court’s discretion, an Interlock device can be installed, which means the person will not be able to start the ignition unless they breathe into the device and pass.
The criminal penalties that can be faced include a potential incarceration of up to two years. A person could also be forced to pay penalties up to $1000. Although it is not always possible, working with an attorney can sometimes allow a person’s penalties to be reduced. In some cases, the attorney can help to get the charges reduced or even dropped, depending on how the negotiations with the prosecution go.
Attorneys Protect Their Client’s Rights
It is imperative a defendant does all they can to protect their rights through the process of their arrest and trial. Even if a person is guilty of breaking the law, this does not mean they no longer hold rights. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the rights they hold and end up allowing them to be inadvertently infringed upon.
As soon as a person learns they are being arrested, it is imperative they exercise their rights and refuse to speak or be questioned without their attorney being present. The DUI attorney in Salisbury, MD will work to protect their client’s rights throughout the process so issues do not arise. To learn more about how an attorney can help, visit Domain.