Activists push for expanded interlock use in Maryland DUI cases

Some Maryland safety advocates are pushing to expand the ignition interlock program to include more first-time DUI offenders.

2014-03-07

March 07, 2014 (Press-News.org) A growing number of states nationwide have passed laws requiring ignition interlock devices for all drivers convicted of driving under the influence -- and some say Maryland could be next.

An ignition interlock device, or IID, is a breath-testing device similar to a Breathalyzer that determines whether the driver of a car has been drinking. The device is integrated with the vehicle's ignition system and prevents it from starting if it detects alcohol levels above a certain threshold on the driver's breath. To prevent drivers from bypassing the system, many interlock devices also require additional breath samples at irregular intervals while the vehicle is running, and some even use cameras to ensure that it is the driver who provides the sample.

Nationwide, 20 states require mandatory IID use by all drivers convicted of DUI, including first-time offenders. Many other states require interlock use only in certain cases, such as those involving drivers with very high blood alcohol (BAC) levels or multiple DUI convictions, or at the discretion of the judge.

Maryland ignition interlock law

In Maryland, ignition interlocks are currently required for drivers who are convicted of two or more alcohol-related driving offenses within a five-year period, and for those who are convicted of driving with a BAC of 0.15 or higher. Participation in the ignition interlock program is also required for anyone convicted of underage DUI.

Maryland drivers convicted of DUI can also be required to participate in the ignition interlock program if a judge orders it, regardless of whether the case involves any of the circumstances described above. Failure to participate in the Maryland ignition interlock program can result in license suspension or revocation, as well as potential fines and even imprisonment.

Interlock violations

Installing an ignition interlock device is the first step toward compliance for those who are required to participate in the program, but the requirements do not stop there -- and neither do the potential pitfalls. In fact, besides simply failing to have the device installed, there are several other ways that Maryland drivers may be charged with interlock violations, including:
- Disabling the device or otherwise tampering with it.
- Falling behind on payments to the interlock provider.
- Not providing a follow-up breath sample when instructed to do so.
- Failing to attend scheduled monitoring sessions.
- Providing a breath sample that registers a BAC of 0.025 or higher.

Maryland drivers who are accused of DUI or interlock violations are encouraged to seek help from an experienced DUI defense lawyer. An attorney with experience in these matters can help drivers protect their rights and provide them with the best chance of a favorable outcome.

Article provided by Saller & Bishop
Visit us at www.sblawmd.com/

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

FMCSA proposes national drug and alcohol testing database

2014-03-07

Drivers know that getting behind the wheel after having too many alcoholic drinks is a bad idea. This is even more true for professional truck drivers, whose vehicles are bigger and more difficult to control than regular passenger vehicles. Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed the creation of a national database of commercial driver drug and alcohol testing information. The hope is that the database will help prevent serious truck accidents where drug or alcohol use is a factor. Under current FMCSA regulations, employers are required ...

Bankruptcy rates may increase as economy improves, some say

2014-03-07

Fewer people filed for bankruptcy in West Virginia in 2013 than the year before, according to a recent report by the American Bankruptcy Institute. Nationwide, bankruptcy filings were also in decline, dropping by a total of about 13 percent across the country. However, while it may seem counterintuitive, some experts predict that the downward trend in bankruptcy rates could actually reverse itself in 2014 as the nation continues its recovery from the Great Recession. In West Virginia and throughout the U.S., bankruptcy rates spiked in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 ...

Hospital error exposes patients to deadly disease

2014-03-07

When someone is in need of a lifesaving medical procedure, they place their trust in medical professionals who have received years of training. Of course, these professionals are human and, unfortunately, they make mistakes. When a medial error occurs, it can put a patient's life at risk. One recent case out of North Carolina demonstrates the kind of life threatening errors that can occur in a hospital setting. A spokesman for the Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, located in Wiston-Salem, announced that a mistake had lead to 18 patients being exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob ...

The silent epidemic of driving while fatigued

2014-03-07

The problems of driving while under the influence and distracted driving are well-known. There are online campaigns, print ads, television commercials and advocacy groups all aimed at stopping these dangerous practices. So-called "drowsy driving" - driving without adequate sleep or rest - is not nearly as well-publicized, but the fact remains that it can be just as deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 2.5 percent of annual fatal car accidents are attributable to fatigued drivers. Polls performed by ...

Radiation before surgery may improve survival rate for mesothelioma

2014-03-07

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can be caused by living or working near asbestos. This type of cancer can be identified by the small cancer cells that will line the layer of tissue in the chest cavity where the lungs are contained. Some of the signs of mesothelioma include difficulty breathing, pain under the rib cage, weight loss for no reason, pain or swelling in the abdomen and lumps in the abdomen. Treating this rare disease Unfortunately, while there are many treatments available to mesothelioma sufferers, a cure is not always possible. Usually, when ...

North Carolina one of the country's "worst driving" states

2014-03-07

A recent study released by online insurance website "Car Insurance Comparison.Com" confirms what many people traveling on the state's roads already know: North Carolina has some of the worst driving conditions in the country. Not only are the state's drivers notoriously aggressive and "lead-footed," but the congestion on interstates and highways, particularly around large metropolitan areas like Charlotte and the "Research Triangle" of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill (also the homes of the state's largest universities), as well as an abundance ...

Study: Even under the legal limit, intoxicated drivers may risk accident

2014-03-07

According to a new study recently published in the journal Injury Prevention, drivers registering well under the legal limit for alcohol consumption - with blood-alcohol content (BAC) measurements as low as 0.01 percent - are considerably more likely to be at fault when involved in car accidents with sober drivers. Even though this particular study builds on previous "buzzed driving" research, it is the first of its kind in regards to scale. In fact, researchers involved in the study examined data from more than 570,000 car accidents between 1994 and 2011. And, ...

Easton teenager charged for deadly texting and driving accident

2014-03-07

Getting a driver's license for the first time is an exciting milestone in every teenager's life. Nobody wants to hurt someone else in an accident, but unfortunately teenagers are a major cause of car accidents across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, teenagers are responsible for about 30 percent of the total medical costs associated with car accidents in the country. More than 2,000 teenagers are killed and 200,000 are injured in car crashes every year, more than any other cause of injury or death for this age group. Driver inexperience ...

Tennessee car accidents: Reduce the risk of legal issues by preparation

2014-03-07

There are many challenges in life to deal with and some can be more difficult than others. One of those challenges is a car accident. In 2013 the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reported that over 18,000 collisions were caused by distracted driving. Often, for people in Anderson County, this means dealing with insurance companies, claims investigators, mechanics and medical staff. It can also lead to legal litigation which can lengthen the amount of time before people receive the compensation to which they are entitled. While people cannot always ...

Strict civil and possible criminal liability for Calif. dog bites

2014-03-07

A Murrieta, Calif., dog owner was charged in February 2014 with the felony of criminal negligence for dog bite injuries inflicted by his three-year-old dog on a toddler in December 2013. According to The Press-Enterprise, the child was attacked while petting the Akita in a home improvement store. Personal injuries to the boy's face and neck resulted in hospitalization and extensive surgical repair, including at least 50 stitches. After authorities discovered that this particular animal had previously bitten two other kids in unreported incidents, the owner was arrested ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Global cervical cancer vaccine roll-out shows it to be very effective in reducing cervical cancer and other HPV-related disease, but huge variations between countries in coverage

Negativity about vaccines surged on Twitter after COVID-19 jabs become available

Global measles cases almost double in a year

Lower dose of mpox vaccine is safe and generates six-week antibody response equivalent to standard regimen

Personalised “cocktails” of antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics hold great promise in treating a common form of irritable bowel syndrome, pilot study finds