An Overview of DUI and DWI Charges
Posted on Feb 24, 2015 12:00pm PST
Driving under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) are
two of the most commonly cited alcohol-related driving offenses throughout
the states.
In Maryland, a person charged with a DUI can face punishment of up to a
year in jail and/or a $ 1,000 fine (for a first offense), plus the MVA
will impose 12 points on your driver’s license record for a conviction.
The DWI is the less serious of the two alcohol-related driving offenses.
A person charged with a DWI will face punishment of up to two months in
jail and/or up to $ 500 fine (for a first offense), plus the MVA will
impose 8 points on your driver’s license record for a conviction.

In the District of Columbia, a person charged with a DUI can face punishment
of up to 180 days in jail and/or a $ 1,000 fine (for a first offense),
plus the DMV will revoke your privilege to drive for a year. The District
of Columbia does not have a DUI provision. Instead, the less serious alcohol
related offense in DC is called Operating a Vehicle While Impaired (OWI).
A person charged with an OWI will face punishment of up to 90 days in
jail and/or up to $ 500 fine (for a first offense), plus the DMV will
revoke your privilege to drive for a year.
Either way, these crimes are considered to be among the most serious of
driving offenses, so it’s important to talk to a traffic offense
attorney who also has experience as a
criminal defense attorney in the Maryland and D.C. areas about the charge. Both DUI, DWI, and OWI,
are traffic offenses while are also misdemeanors that carry heavy penalties
if convicted.
Meaning of 0.08 percent
In every state, law enforcement presumes a driver with a BAC of 0.08 percent
or higher to be under the influence of alcohol. During a trial, a judge
or jury may consider the evidence of the BAC results. Jury instructions
require a judge or jury to presume individuals who have recorded a BAC
result over the designated legal limits to be considered to be DUI, DWI,
or OWI, depending on the result. However, scientific machines that measure
blood alcohol content for an individual based upon presumptions derived
from breath samples are not always accurate. In addition, the technicians
who administer the breath tests are not always conducting the tests in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Mistakes can be
made along the way. If you suspect an error in the calculations of your
BAC by police or law enforcement, it is important to contact a skilled
and experienced practitioner who would know the difference.