Maryland DUI Lawyers Blog

Police often set up sobriety checkpoints for Memorial Day weekend, just as they do for many other holidays, in an effort to reduce the number of intoxicated drivers. As any Maryland DUI lawyer can tell you, Memorial Day weekend often sees an increase in arrests for driving under the influence. This Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore, a single vehicle crash claimed the life of a 6-year-old passenger and injured seven others. Police investigators have said that speed and "possibly alcohol" were factors in the fatal wreck.

According to Baltimore police, the accident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening, when the SUV involved crossed the median on Perring Parkway and went airborne, flipping several times. Eight occupants of the SUV were thrown from the vehicle. All eight were treated at the scene and hospitalized with varying degrees of fractures, cuts, and bruises; some had life-threatening injuries. A 6-year-old boy died at the hospital.

Police report that most of the SUV's occupants were teenagers, although the youngest passenger appeared to be 4 or 5 years old.

At this time, police have not conclusively found that the driver of the SUV was driving under the influence of alcohol; however, they do suspect that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Under Maryland DUI law, the consequences of a DUI conviction are more severe if the convicted driver was transporting a minor while he or she was driving under the influence. If the driver is arrested and charged with DUI, a Maryland DUI attorney will help him or her understand the penalties associated with a conviction and will help protect the client's rights throughout the legal proceedings.

As a Maryland DUI lawyer, it is common around the holiday season that police step up enforcement to keep an eye out for drunk drivers. Research has shown that checkpoints help reduce alcohol related crashes because drivers fear receiving a DUI charge. However, the group most at risk, young drivers, are missing the message.

In order to avoid arrest for driving while intoxicated charges, young adults are using technology to inform others of the checkpoint's location. The information can be passed along by text message, email, or Twitter. Additionally, a iPhone application was developed and released that also informs drivers of where checkpoints are. Many are injured and/or killed in alcohol related crashes this time of year--perhaps in an effort to avoid a DUI checkpoint.

However, there are many who believe that sharing this information is helpful, not harmful. Police departments around the country promote their checkpoints in several media venues to encourage individuals to designate a sober driver. Sharing the information through text message, Twitter, or iPhone application does the same thing, perhaps more effectively. Reaching individuals--especially young adults on their cellular phones, is a quick and cheap way to spread an important message.

While law enforcement officials certainly do not want to encourage drunk drivers to hit the road by sharing information, changing the place is an extensive and difficult process. Changing the spot of the checkpoint after announcing it will prove difficult due to legal requirements, as well as the great number of officers and equipment it takes to set-up the site.

On average, drunk driving accidents are reduced approximately twenty percent because of checkpoints. The goal, however, is not to keep drunk drivers off the road, but instead prevent them from getting in the car in the first place. By increasing the perceived risk of arrest, intoxicated individuals will be less likely to get behind the wheel. Sharing this information only increases that perceived risk, as well as the incentive for young adults to appoint a sober driver.

Facing a driving while intoxicated charge is a difficult and confusing process. Conviction of a Maryland DUI charge can have life changing consequences including the loss of driving privileges, fines, and/or jail time. For the best legal advice possible, contact a hard-working and aggressive Maryland DUI attorney or Maryland criminal lawyer immediately.