Maryland DWI Laws for Juveniles

Your Ad Here

If you are under the age of 21 and are convicted of a DWI in the state of Maryland, you stand to face rather harsh penalties. Recently, Maryland revised its DWI laws to increase the severity of consequences for juvenile drivers (under age 21).

This change to the DWI laws is part of a larger crack down on underage drinking that has been going on throughout the state. Due to lack of maturity and inexperience on the road, juvenile drivers are responsible for a large number of auto accidents. When alcohol is added to the equation, this risk is substantially higher.

Impact of a DWI on a Juvenile

The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) treats juveniles differently than adults, since there are restrictions placed on your driver’s license until you turn 21. Therefore, juveniles face the following consequences for a DWI:

• Automatic suspension of license for refusing or failing a breath test
• Possible jail time
• Up to 6 month license suspension if convicted
• Hefty fines

Probation Before Judgment

In the state of Maryland, the judge has the right to grant a Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) in DWI cases. With a PBJ, your case is resolved without a trial or conviction. If the judge accepts a PBJ plea, you will be placed on probation for a specified amount of time, and if you complete the probationary period without any further marks on your record, your charge is completely dismissed.

The primary benefit of a PBJ plea is that your DWI will not be on your permanent record. You will not receive any points on your license, you will not lose your license, and your insurance will not find out about the infraction, which will save you a great deal of money on your insurance premiums. More importantly, you will not have to disclose your DWI to potential employers.

However, if you are under 21, judges will not grant you a Probation Before Judgment. Therefore, you will be unable to avoid the many penalties associated with a DWI conviction. At best, you can only hope for a reduction in penalties. However, your DWI will remain on your permanent record. Clearly, this is less than ideal.

DWI Defense

Due to the seriousness of the charges and the major impact a DWI will have on all areas of your life, it is important to hire an experienced DWI lawyer to represent you. The stakes are simply too high to defend yourself. You are much more likely to receive a lenient sentence if you are represented by a skilled DWI lawyer. If you are a juvenile, it is even more important to secure proper representation since the consequences are more severe when you are under 21.

If you have been charged with a DWI in the Baltimore, Maryland area, please contact the Law Offices of Jimeno & Gray, P.A. today to schedule a consultation.