Rockville Maryland Marijuana DUI Lawyers
According to Maryland DUI laws driving under the influence of marijuana in Maryland is a crime. Though all of Maryland allows medical marijuana use under limited circumstances, it is still a crime to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana. A driver will be found guilty of a marijuana DUI if his/her mental and physical faculties are impaired by marijuana. Read on to learn more about Maryland marijuana DUI laws and how our College Park, Maryland marijuana DUI defense attorneys can help you.
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana In MD
A driver with minuscule amounts of THC in his/her system may not be charged with a DUI so long as he/she is not “under the influence” of marijuana. Being under the influence of marijuana means a driver’s physical and mental faculties are too impacted to drive in accordance with motor vehicle laws. It is especially difficult for law enforcement to prove a person consumed forms of THC before driving. This is because blood and urine tests can detect marijuana in a driver’s blood several weeks after usage. Police officers rely on field sobriety tests to determine whether a driver is under the influence of marijuana. Field sobriety tests include the following:
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
- Walk and Turn Test
- One-Leg Stand
If a driver fails two of the tests, the officer will take him/her into custody for further testing. At the police station, the driver will be required to take either a urine or blood test. These tests are often flawed because they fail to indicate whether a person consumed marijuana before driving. The prosecutor must obtain sufficient evidence for a driver to be charged with a marijuana DUI in Maryland. Contact our Frederick, Maryland marijuana DUI defense lawyers for more information on how they can get your marijuana DUI case dismissed. At the very least, depending on your previous criminal record and DUI history, they will minimize the negative consequences of your pending MD DUI charges.
Penalties & Fines for Marijuana DUI In Maryland
A first time offender may be sentenced to spend a small amount of time in jail and probation after the jail stay. You will have to pay a hefty fine, and face a mandatory, and lengthy driver’s license suspension. Also, the defendant will be required to install an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle. Due to Maryland’s 10 year look back period re: DUI charges subsequent conviction within 10 years of the first/last conviction will result in the defendant serving between more time in jail, pay larger fines and face another driver’s license suspension. The offender will be required to install an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle.
A third time offender may serve between 120 days and one year in jail, pay a fine between steeper fines and fees. In addition a repeat MD marijuana DUI offender be required to install an ignition interlock device. In addition to the penalties and fines mentioned above, a judge may require the defendant to attend a Driving Under the Influence Program. Lastly, you will be looking at jail time, or at least lengthy home confinement, after a subsequent Maryland DUI conviction.
Contact A Rockville Marijuana DUI Attorney
Please feel free to contact our College Park, Maryland maryland DUI defense lawyers for a consultation. Do not go through the Maryland criminal justice system without being represented by an experienced Bowie, MD marijuana DUI defense attorney. Our Silver Spring, MD marijuana DUI attorneys will review your case and provide you with legal advice. Depending on the nature of your case, our Bethesda marijuana DUI lawyers may be able to have the charge asserted against you reduced or completely dismissed.
