If you consume too much alcohol, it can dangerously affect your driving skills and ability as a driver.
Driving Under the Influence in Maryland
Any adult driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .08 can be charged as a drunk driver or for DUI in Maryland.
That’s why it’s important to assign a designated driver, or a sober driver, as part of your party if you plan on consuming alcohol during a night on the town.
Alcoholic beverages, even under the legal limit, can lead to impaired vision, problems with depth perception, or stopping in time.
To consume alcohol and drive is indeed a dangerous undertaking.
Again, drinking alcohol affects the ability of the driver to determine distance and to see clearly. Impaired drivers also have problems stopping or reacting quickly.
This is why motor vehicle crashes involving DUI are prevalent in Maryland
Alcohol impairment leads to fatal crashes, as drinking slows responses and causes problems with reasoning or thinking clearly.
Moreover, according to traffic safety facts, getting behind the wheel when drunk also leads to reduced coordination, which adds to the problem of risky driving and traffic-related deaths.
How Points Accrue on a Valid Driver’s License After a DUI Conviction
The Motor Vehicle Administration will record “points” for any driver who is guilty of a DUI or DWI. Points remain on the driver’s record for two years after a DUI or DWI conviction.
- If a driver is found guilty of DWI, they will receive eight points, which means their license may be suspended.
- If a driver is found guilty of DUI, they will be assessed 12 points and may have their license revoked.
A suspension happens when a driver is temporarily suspended from driving for a certain period. A revocation requires a driver to obtain approval from the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) in Maryland before they can legally resume driving again.
Alcohol-related traffic accidents often lead to serious injury or fatality. So, it’s best not to drink to the point where you’re required to take a breathalyzer or a blood test.
Impaired Vision and Blurred Perception Affect Driving Performance
Alcohol consumption can blur a driver’s vision and alter depth perception, making it harder to judge distances and react to objects on the road.
It can also cause double vision, which is particularly dangerous when driving in traffic. Impaired night vision and problems with distinguishing colors are the other visual effects of alcohol.
Coordination and Motor Skills Are Significantly Affected by Alcohol Consumption
Drinking alcohol negatively affects the driving coordination skills of a driver. Likewise, alcohol also affects the ability of the driver to drive, brake, and accelerate easily.
Besides problems with hand-eye coordination, alcohol also makes it more difficult to respond quickly if the drunk driver ever needs to change directions abruptly or has to change lanes.
Alcohol Amplifies Fatigue, Making It Dangerous to Drive When Tired
Combine excessive alcohol consumption with fatigue and it can cause the driver to easily fall asleep at the wheel.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
The Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC, measures the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.
It is used to legally define alcohol intoxication and is expressed in terms of the mass of alcohol per volume of blood.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits
- In Maryland, the legal BAC limit for impaired driving is 0.08% for a DUI conviction.
- For commercial drivers, the limit is stricter at 0.04%. DUI may include the drinking of alcohol as well as the use of illegal drugs or legal drugs mixed with alcohol.
- Drivers who are pulled over for driving while under the influence, or DWI, must have a BAC limit of 0.07%.
- Young drivers under the age of 21, who drink and drive, can get arrested for having a BAC of 0.02% – part of Maryland’s Zero Tolerance law for minors.
What Affects My BAC?
Several factors can influence your BAC and how quickly it rises. These factors include your body weight, gender, the number of drinks you’ve consumed. It can also include the time span in which you consumed the drinks.
Food intake also plays a role in this respect. Eating before or while drinking slows alcohol consumption.
Each person metabolizes alcohol differently, so the BAC can vary widely among individuals – even if they drink the same amount of alcohol at about the same pace.
Drinking Caffeine Does Not Change Your BAC Level
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drinking coffee will not sober you up or change the amount of alcohol in your system. Caffeine has no effect on the liver’s metabolism of alcohol.
Moreover, the World Health Organization states that no amount of alcohol is good for people’s overall health.
Does the Type of Alcohol I Drink Affect My BAC Level?
It’s not the type of alcohol you drink, but the amount of alcohol in your drinks that affects your BAC level or reading. Therefore, whether you drink beer, wine, or liquor, the alcohol affects a driver by its content.
For example, a standard drink—defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor—contains roughly the same amount of alcohol.
Therefore, drinking any of these drinks in equal measure will result in a similar BAC level or reading.
Can I Refuse a Breathalyzer Test If I Get Pulled Over?
In Maryland, you have the right to refuse a breathalyzer test, but it’s important to note that a refusal can lead to serious repercussions.
Under Maryland’s implied consent law, you automatically consent to BAC testing when you get a valid driver’s license.
Refusing the test for a DUI then can result in an automatic license suspension. Additionally, a refusal can be used against you in court, possibly leading to further penalties.
Can I Be Arrested for Drunk Driving – Even If My BAC Is Below the Legal Limit?
Yes, you can be arrested for drunk driving in Maryland – even if your BAC is below the legal limit of 0.08%. If a law enforcement officer determines your drunk driving is affecting your ability to drive safely, they can arrest you.
Whether drivers binge drink or their risk-taking behavior only involves a standard drink, DUI offenders, who are visibly impaired, may be arrested.
Any risk-taking, impaired driving, or lack of responsible behavior can lead to problems with speed control, and vehicle control, and a reduced ability for an intoxicated driver to drive safely or use good judgment on and off the road.
Drunk Drivers Are More Prone to Reckless Behavior on the Road, or Alcohol-Related Accidents
Drunk drivers are notably more likely to engage in reckless behavior. That’s because alcohol can make a driver feel overly confident, prompting them to take risks they wouldn’t normally take, even when a driver’s motor skills are affected.
Risky driving may take the form of overtaking other cars in a dangerous manner or driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Alcohol slows reaction time and therefore leads to a decreased ability to stop or slow down.
Because of their slow reaction time, impaired vision, reduced coordination, and lack of speed control, impaired drivers have trouble when they track moving objects and or when they judge distances.
Penalties and Legal Fees for DUI Convictions in Maryland
- If you’re convicted of a first DWI offense, you can spend up to 60 days in jail. Or you can also pay as much as $500 in fines. You may also have your driver’s license suspended for up to six months.
- Should you receive a first-offense DUI, you may spend up to a year in jail and pay as much as $1,000 in fines. Your driver’s license may be revoked for up to six months.
- Penalties are harsher if a driver has prior drunk driving convictions or if they have an underage child in their auto at the time of the arrest.
Ignition Interlock Devices for Impaired Driving Convictions
For certain DUI convictions in Maryland, especially those involving repeat offenders or high blood alcohol concentration levels, the court may require the installation of an ignition interlock device on the offender’s vehicle.
This device prevents the vehicle from starting until the driver provides a breath sample that is below a pre-set limit. An IID is intended to prevent further DUI offenses and arrests.
Risks and Consequences of Drinking and Driving on Vehicle Safety on the Roadways
Drinking and driving pose significant risks, not only to the driver but also to others on the road. This is because alcohol slows down the signals in the central nervous system and brain.
As a result, alcohol leads to a reduced ability to respond and to drive a vehicle safely and responsibly. Reduced concentration and a decrease in reaction time can pose safety threats and hazards to drivers and pedestrians.
How Alcohol Impacts Reaction Time
Alcohol slows reflexes, making it harder to react quickly in emergency situations. As a result, alcohol affects your motor skills, which reduces your ability to drive safely and with care as a driver. If you mix alcohol with a depressant drug, it only compounds the problem.
Judgment and Decision-Making Abilities
Alcohol affects the ability to judge distances and speeds accurately. As a result, drunk driving makes it difficult to follow safe driving practices.
Coordination and Alcohol Consumption
A decrease in coordination from alcohol affects the steering and braking of a driver and the overall safety of the vehicle.
Changes in Lifestyle
Additionally, drivers may face increased insurance rates and even lose their driving privileges, affecting their ability to work and maintain personal independence.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Arrested for DUI?
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, it’s important to act responsibly. Even when you’re a drunk driver, it’s important to take the following steps if the police pull you over while you’re intoxicated behind the wheel:
Don’t React
Remain calm and be polite to law enforcement officers.
Don’t Say Anything that May Affect Your Case
Exercise your right to remain silent, as anything you say can be used against you in court.
Speak with a Lawyer
Contact a DUI attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case and begin preparing your defense.
Cooperate Fully
Follow the legal advice of your attorney and make sure to attend all scheduled court appearances.
DUI FAQs
Alcohol can affect you without warning. The following FAQs can help you learn more about its effects.
What is one of the first areas in the body affected by alcohol?
Alcohol affects the brain first before affecting the kidneys, lungs, and liver.
When does alcohol impairment start?
Research shows that a person can become impaired from a very low level of alcohol – from 0.014 ppm (parts per million) to 0.05. Again, a reading of 0.08 BAC is considered a legal impairment for driving.
When a person reaches 0.015% impairment, they start slurring their words and the alcohol impacts their speech.
What major health problem results from regular alcohol consumption?
Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases or can lead to heart problems over time.
How many drinks do you typically have to drink to reach the legal BAC of 0.08% for driving under the influence?
On average, your BAC goes up about 0.02% for each drink you consume. So, you’ve reached 0.08% after about four to five drinks.
Talk with Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, contact the Law Offices of Alex Poberesky right away. By speaking to our legal team, you can learn more about your rights and what to expect in your DUI court case.
Whether you are charged with drunk driving after a traffic stop or were involved in an accident after consuming alcohol, give us a call.
Intoxicated drivers involved in such accidents and anyone who is accused of extremely dangerous driving behind the wheel of a vehicle need to have legal representation.
Both repeat offenders and anyone whose impaired judgment led to a DUI arrest should schedule a legal consultation without delay. Call us today to arrange an in-person appointment immediately.
