A 25-year-old Maryland woman was taken into custody for drinking and driving after she allegedly caused a head-on collision in the early morning hours of March 25. She submitted to field sobriety tests, and although the results of the tests were not released, she faces DUI charges.
Early that morning, Maryland law enforcement personnel responded to a call to be on the look out for a white car. Within two minutes, someone reported a head-on collision involving the same vehicle that had hit an SUV. Both vehicles sustained serious front-end damage.
The motorist signed a document at the accident scene saying that she did not wish to seek additional medical treatment. The driver of the van was taken to a medical facility for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
A person who is accused of drinking and driving can face serious sanctions in Maryland. These might include fines, probation, loss of license, community service hours, alcohol education classes or intensive treatment, and time in jail or prison. With each additional DUI offense, the sanctions usually become increasingly harsh.
A criminal defense attorney might be able to ensure that the officers on the scene read the client their rights prior to an arrest and followed the proper procedures for administering a breathalyzer and the field sobriety tests. The attorney often tries to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution or the judge in order to lessen the sentences that a client might face.
Source: Southern Maryland Newsnet, “Woman Arrested for Drunk Driving in Head on Collision in Mechanicsville,” March 25, 2013