17 Apr Maryland man enters into plea bargain for DUI charges

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Drunk Driving on Thursday, April 17, 2014.

Near the end of Jan. 2014, an official with the Charles County Commissioner’s Office was arrested on the suspicion of drunk driving as he was traveling from his home in Waldorf to his office in La Plata. He had been driving erratically, which initiated the traffic stop, and officers noticed his eyes were bloodshot when they approached his vehicle. He did undergo field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed. He was ultimately booked on DUI charges.

He also submitted to a breathalyzer test, which would test his blood alcohol content level. Maryland’s legal level is 0.08 and he blew 0.10. He pleaded guilty to the charges and requested probation. He received one full year of probation.

Three months of his probation will be supervised, with the other nine months being unsupervised. With this plea, he has the chance to expunge his criminal record. Following full completion of the probation, he will have a clean record.

It isn’t uncommon for first-time offenders to receive a second chance by entering into a plea bargain in Maryland and across the nation. In many cases, the prosecution will drop all DUI charges and jail time can be avoided. An individual will generally have to take part in community service, probation or an alcohol rehabilitation program. However, it is crucial that individuals who enter into such agreements ensure that they are completed or a conviction can still be made and applicable punishments handed down. Ultimately, with the right defense strategy, it is possible to obtain reduced sentencing or lesser charges.

Source: SoMdNews, “Collins gets probation for DWI plea“, Jeff Newman, April 3, 2014