Personal Injury Accident News:

Maryland Intoxicated Driver Laws

Repeat Intoxicated Driver Laws establish a minimum penalty for individuals convicted of a second or subsequent offense for driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence. Laws require a minimum of one-year driver’s license suspension; expect that all motor vehicles of repeat intoxicated drivers be impounded or immobilized for a specified period during the license suspension period, or require the installation of an ignition interlock system on all motor vehicles of such drivers for a specified period after the suspension is completed; ensure the mandatory assessment of the offender’s degree of alcohol abuse and referral to treatment as appropriate; and establish a mandatory minimum sentence.

Vehicle and License Plate Sanctions affect the vehicles or license plates of DUI/DWI offenders. Actions states can take include the following. As of March 2005, 44 states had laws that can affect the vehicles or vehicle plates of offenders. Check with a State Department of Transportation to determine the exact nature of the laws in its jurisdiction.

Open Container Laws prohibit the possession of any open alcoholic beverage container and the consumption of any alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. In 1998, the Federal government took steps to encourage states to enact open container laws by passing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which required states to enact open container laws by October 1, 2000 or lose a portion of their Federal-aid highway construction funds. To avoid having their funds transferred to other safety activities, states must certify that they comply with Federal requirements and that their open container law is in effect and being enforced. By April 2004, 36 states and the District of Columbia complied with Federal terms of this law.

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