What Happens if I Continue to Drive After a DUI in Maryland

If you were recently convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), your driving privileges might be limited, suspended, or revoked. If you continue to drive, there might be severe consequences, and you may need help from a lawyer.

Exactly what happens to you if you continue driving after getting a DUI in Maryland depends on your DUI and the terms of your court-imposed penalties. Some people have their licenses suspended or completely revoked. Others may keep driving legally under certain restrictions. For example, you might continue to drive with an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. You should not be driving at all if your license is suspended or revoked. When you are allowed to drive freely again after a DUI depends on your unique situation. You should talk to an attorney about what to do if you want to continue driving after a DUI.

If you were convicted of a DUI and are unsure whether you can keep driving, call our Baltimore DUI attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 and schedule a free review of your case.

What if I Keep Driving After I Get a DUI in Maryland?

When a person is convicted of a DUI, they often face strict penalties against their driver’s license. As such, their driving privileges might be taken away or at least somewhat limited. This makes driving after a DUI tricky in some cases and illegal in others. If you are unsure whether you can keep driving or what will happen if you do, talk to our Annapolis, MD DUI lawyers now.

What happens if you keep driving after a DUI depends on the nature of your DUI conviction and the penalties imposed by the court. For first-time offenders whose DUI violations were relatively minor (e.g., no injuries, no property damage, lower blood alcohol concentration), the penalties against their license might be minimal. If your DUI was more severe and involved injuries or a high BAC, you might be more restricted, and penalties for driving might be harsh.

If you are legally allowed to drive after a DUI, you might have alcohol restrictions placed on your license. This means that it is illegal for you to drive with any alcohol in your system, even if it is below the legal limit of .08%, and you are not even impaired. Alternatively, you might be able to drive only if you install an ignition interlock device.

If your license is suspended or revoked after your DUI, you cannot drive at all without being penalized. If your license is suspended, it is inactive until the suspension period ends. If your license is revoked, it is completely gone, and you must reapply for a new license after the revocation period ends. Driving during this time is illegal. Penalties might include an extension on your suspension or revocation period and hefty fines.

Driving with an Ignition Interlock Device After a DUI in Maryland

Ignition interlock devices are small breathalyzer-like devices that connect directly to your vehicle. Before starting your car, you must blow into the device, and if any alcohol is detected on your breath, the car will not start.

Ignition interlock devices are often part of the penalties associated with DUIs. Many drivers are given the option of installing an ignition interlock device in their vehicle so they do not have to serve the full license suspension. While your license might be suspended for a little while, you may resume driving on the condition that you have this device in your car.

Problems arise when people previously convicted of DUIs who must have an ignition interlock device drive a different vehicle without the device installed. It is illegal for such a person to drive any other vehicle other than the one with the device installed. If you are stopped by the police in a different vehicle, you might face harsh penalties. Similarly, if you have someone else blow into the device to start your car, you are in violation of the terms of your court-imposed DUI penalties.

If you drive without an ignition interlock device, you will be removed from the program that provides these devices. When this happens, you will be forced to serve the full license suspension, and you will not be able to drive at all. Depending on the situation, the court might also choose to extend your suspension as punishment for the violation.

Driving After Your License was Suspended for a DUI in Maryland

If you drive on a DUI-suspended license, you may face additional penalties. When your license is suspended or revoked, you are not permitted to drive at all. Penalties for driving on a suspended license can be found under Md. Code Transportation § 16-303(k).

For a first offense, you might be sentenced to no more than 1 year in jail or a fine of no more than $1,000 or both. The more times you are caught driving on a suspended license, the worse these penalties may become. If you are charged with a second offense within 3 years of your first offense, you may face up to 2 years in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

If you are unsure whether your license is still suspended, talk to a lawyer and figure it out before you get back on the road. Once the suspension period is over, your license might not automatically be reinstated. Instead, you have to apply for reinstatement. If your license is revoked, you have to apply for an entirely new license, which is not totally guaranteed.

It is better to take extra time and get help from a lawyer than risk expensive fines you might be unable to pay, jail time, or both.

Contact Our Maryland DUI Attorneys for Help

If you were convicted of a DUI and are unsure whether you can keep driving, call our Ocean City, MD DUI attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 and schedule a free review of your case.