Maryland was recently ranked as needing to do more in terms of highway safety, according to a study conducted by the advocates for highway and auto safety. Across the country, fatal vehicle accidents claimed the lives of more than 35,000 individuals in 2015 but in Maryland, nearly 6,000 people have been killed on roads throughout the state. The study classified Maryland with a yellow rating identifying that there are critical laws on the books but that there could be more. One of the most recent acts on the book is known as Noah’s Law named after Montgomery police officer, Noah Liotta.

Noah Liotta was struck by a drunk driver and the law makes it so that mandatory alcohol testing devices are attached to a car’s ignition after a DUI conviction. In the state of Maryland if your blood alcohol content is 0.15 or higher and you are convicted as a first-time offender, you will have a 180-day suspension of your license without the opportunity for conditional driving situations. The ignition interlock device will be automatically installed in this situation.

If you refuse a breathalyzer test during a stop for suspected DUI, the penalties will increase automatically by suspending your license for 270 days with no modifications and/or you will have to have an ignition interlock device installed. Under this new law the penalties are harsher. It is imperative to understand your rights and responsibilities should you be pulled over for DUI in the state of Maryland. Identifying an attorney who can help you fight these charges is imperative as you may make mistakes early on in the process that could compromise your ability to successfully defend yourself.

The stakes are high if you’re accused of DUI or DWI in Maryland. If you take no action and assume that this is a minor matter, you could jeopardize your future. Don’t wait to get help. As soon as possible after you have been charged, you need to contact an experienced and dedicated lawyer. The right Maryland DUI defense attorney can help you identify a strategy to protect your rights.