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 § 21-902. Driving while under the influence of alcohol, while under the influence of alcohol per se, while impaired by alcohol, or while impaired by a drug, a combination of drugs, a combination of one or more drugs and alcohol, or while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance. 

IMPAIRED DRIVING CONVICTIONS

If you are convicted of an impaired driving offense, you face both criminal penalties and license sanctions.If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI):

• For a first offense, you face up to a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Twelve (12) points will be assessed on your driving record and your license may be revoked for up to six (6) months.
• For a second offense, you face a $2,000 fine and up to two years imprisonment (with a mandatory minimum of five days). Twelve (12) points will be assessed on your license and your license may be revoked for up to one year.
• For two convictions within five years, a mandatory period of suspension will be followed by a minimum required period of participation in the Ignition Interlock Program.
• You may be required to participate in an alcohol abuse assessment and program.

If you are convicted of Driving while Impaired by Alcohol (DWI):

• For a first offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to two months imprisonment. Eight (8) points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a 6-month license suspension.  If this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 1-year suspension.
• For a second DWI offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to one year imprisonment. Eight (8) points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a license suspension of 9 to 12 months.  If this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 2-year suspension.

The penalties are substantially higher if you are transporting a minor at the time of the offense or for a third offense. 

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for fender benders to result in charges being filed for leaving the scene of an accident without stopping or without providing required information.  The potential penalty in such cases resulting in property damage or personal injury is two months in jail and/or a $500 fine.  If the accident resulted in death the penalty can be five or ten years, depending upon how the State files the charges. 

 Maryland Transportation Section 20-103 

      (a)      The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results only in damage to an attended vehicle or other attended property immediately shall stop the vehicle as close as possible to the scene of the accident, without obstructing traffic more than necessary.

      (b)      The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results only in damage to an attended vehicle or other attended property shall return to and remain at the scene of the accident until he has complied with § 20-104 of this title.

Maryland Transportation Section 20-104

      (a)      The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results in bodily injury to or death of any person or in damage to an attended vehicle or other attended property shall render reasonable assistance to any person injured in the accident and, if the person requests medical treatment or it is apparent that medical treatment is necessary, arrange for the transportation of the person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical treatment.

      (b)      The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results in bodily injury to or death of any person or in damage to an attended vehicle or other attended property shall give his name, his address, and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving and, on request, exhibit his license to drive, if it is available, to:

            (1)      Any person injured in the accident; and

            (2)      The driver, occupant of, or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the accident.

      (c)      The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results in bodily injury to or death of any person or in damage to an attended vehicle or other attended property shall give the same information described in subsection (b) of this section and, on request, exhibit his license to drive, if it is available, to any police officer who is at the scene of or otherwise is investigating the accident.

      (d)      If a police officer is not present and none of the specified persons is in condition to receive the information to which the person otherwise would be entitled under this section, the driver, after fulfilling to the extent possible every other requirement of § 20-102 of this title and subsection (a) of this section, immediately shall report the accident to the nearest office of an authorized police authority and give the information specified in subsection (b) of this section.

 Maryland Transportation Section 16-101

Driving or attempting to drive without a license on Maryland roads without a license carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.  A conviction for driving without a license will result in 5 points being assessed. 

Maryland law requires that new residents to the State of Maryland eligible for driver’s licenses obtain their Maryland driver’s license within the first 60 days of being in Maryland.  There are many important exceptions to this requirement including nonresident students and members of the armed forces.  The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) website is a good resource for information regarding licensing requirements. 

Because driving without a license carries the possibility of incarceration it is what is referred to as a “must appear” citation.  That means that this citation cannot be disposed of just by paying a fine.  A driver how receives a ticket for driving without a license must go to court to resolve their case.  

 Maryland Transportation Section 16-303

A driver cannot drive on Maryland roads while their driver's license or privilege to drive in Maryland is suspended, revoked, canceled, or refused. Driving on revoked carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and/or a $1000 fine.  A conviction would also result on 12 points.

The maximum penalty for driving on suspended depends on the reason for the driver's suspension.  The maximum penalty can range from zero days in jail and/or a $500 fine up to one year in jail and/or a $1000 fine.  If convicted the driver could receive up to 12 points.

In order for a driver to be convicted of driving on suspended or revoked the State must show that the driver was driving a motor vehicle on a highway or private property used by the public in general, and that at the time of the offense the driver had actual knowledge of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, or refusal. Knowledge may also be shown by either deliberately avoided knowing about it, or being willfully blind to the suspension or revocation.