When someone is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol, they can face various consequences that can potentially impact their lives in the long term. That said, unfortunately, there are many common myths about DUIs in Maryland that lead those charged with DUIs to make misinformed decisions about how they will proceed. Continue reading and contact our Annapolis DUI lawyer to learn more about the 5 most common DUI myths.
5 Common DUI Myths
Some of the most common DUI myths that our firm sees are as follows:
- You need a .07% blood alcohol content to receive an alcohol-related charge. This is untrue. Though .07% is technically the legal limit, if a police officer can prove that you had a BAC slightly lower than .07%, but that the alcohol was impacting your ability to safely operate your motor vehicle, you may still face an alcohol-related offense.
- If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test, you can’t receive a DUI. This is also untrue. If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test, law enforcement can still charge you with a crime, which will most likely result in a months-long suspension of your driver’s license, among other penalties.
- You can’t disprove the results of a breathalyzer test. Though it’s fair to assume that breathalyzer tests are never wrong, this is simply untrue. In some cases, breathalyzer tests are improperly administered and render inaccurate results. In other cases, breathalyzers themselves are defective. Both scenarios would make any results from the breath test inadmissible in court.
- You can’t disprove the results of a field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests are not always fool-proof ways of telling whether someone is under the influence of alcohol. For example, if you failed a field sobriety test and received a DUI because you have a medical condition or disability that prevents you from, say, walking in a completely straight line, we may have a valid defense. Standardized field sobriety tests are also often subjective.
- You can effectively fight a DUI without the help of an attorney. No matter how much you think you know about DUI law in Maryland, the truth is, you cannot effectively fight a DUI charge unless you are a criminal defense attorney. Our firm can assess the circumstances of your charge, and, from there, tailor our strategy to your exact needs.
If you recently received a DUI or a DWI in Maryland, you should speak with our Maryland criminal defense lawyer at once. Our firm is here to help fight your charges, every step of the way.
Contact our experienced Maryland firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Anne Arundel County and Howard County, Maryland who need legal assistance for criminal defense or personal injury matters. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
