DUI Checkpoint In Harford County Set For Aug. 30

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Police officers will hold a special checkpoint to check for intoxicated drivers in Harford County over Labor Day weekend. Officials said the driving while intoxicated checkpoint is planned for Friday, Aug. 30, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

By law, authorities have to announce the sobriety checkpoint. Following a Supreme Court case regarding the 4th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, the court ruled that citizens' rights to security against unlawful search and seizure are not violated if the checkpoint is publicized in advance.

Designate a sober driver or get the Safer Ride app, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It pulls up taxi services in the area.

Here are some numbers for local cabs:

• Victory Cab in Aberdeen: 410-838-5700
• ABC Taxi in Aberdeen: 410-272-0272
• Montville Taxi in Havre de Grace: 410-939-0900
• We Got Cha Taxi in Aberdeen: 410-937-7917

Every year more than 160 lives are lost in Maryland in crashes involving impaired drivers and thousands more are injured, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

Maryland DUI Laws

If you test above the legal limit for alcohol (0.08 BAC), or refuse an officer's request to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drug use, you will be issued an Order of Suspension (form #DR-015A) along with your traffic citation(s). The police officer will confiscate your Maryland driver's license and may issue you a 45-day temporary paper license.

For more information visit, see Alcohol Test Failure or Refusal.

If you were operating a commercial vehicle or are a commercial driver license holder at the time of your stop, you are also subject to the disqualification of your commercial driving status. For more information about penalties for commercial license drivers and operators of commercial vehicles, also see the Commercial Driver's License Manual.

Impaired Driving Convictions

If you are convicted of an impaired driving offense, you face both criminal penalties and license sanctions.

If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol:

• For a first offense, you face up to a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Twelve (12) points will be assessed on your driving record and your license may be revoked for up to six (6) months.
• For a second offense, you face a $2,000 fine and up to two years imprisonment (with a mandatory minimum of five days). Twelve (12) points will be assessed on your license and your license may be revoked for up to one year.
• For two convictions within five years, a mandatory period of suspension will be followed by a minimum required period of participation in the Ignition Interlock Program.
• You may be required to participate in an alcohol abuse assessment and program.

If you are convicted of Driving while Impaired by Alcohol (DWI):

• For a first offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to two months imprisonment. Eight (8) points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a 6-month license suspension. If this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 1-year suspension.
• For a second DWI offense, you face up to a $500 fine and up to one year imprisonment. Eight (8) points will be assessed on your driving record, and you face a license suspension of 9 to 12 months. If this conviction is the result of a driver under 21, you will face a 2-year suspension.

The penalties are substantially higher if you are transporting a minor at the time of the offense or for a third offense.