DUI with Life Threatening Injuries – Enhanced Penalties

A Md. man involved in a vehicle accident Saturday afternoon on Greencastle Pike that closed the road for nearly an hour was arrested for driving under the influence, Maryland State Police said. The accident involved two cars. The driver who was arrested rear-ended another vehicle resulting in injuries to passengers in the second vehicle. If convicted the man faces stiff sentencing under Maryland DUI laws.  The For more go to WUSA9.

In Maryland, if you are convicted of driving under the influence or driving with influence in an accident that causes life threatening personal injuries to others you faced enhanced sentencing that could send you to jail for up to 3 years.

§3–211.

(a)    (1)   In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

         (2)   “Under the influence of alcohol per se” means having an alcohol concentration at the time of testing of at least 0.08 as measured by grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

         (3)    (i)   “Vessel” means any watercraft that is used or is capable of being used as a means of transportation on water or ice.

                   (ii)   “Vessel” does not include a seaplane.

(b)    (1)   For purposes of determining alcohol concentration under this section, if the alcohol concentration is measured by milligrams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, a court shall convert the measurement into grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood by dividing the measurement by 1000.

         (2)   The presumptions and evidentiary rules of §§ 10-302, 10-306, 10-307, and 10-308 of the Courts Article apply to a person charged under this section.

(c)    (1)   A person may not cause a life-threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s negligently driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel while the person is:

         (i)   under the influence of alcohol; or

          (ii)   under the influence of alcohol per se.

          (2)   A violation of this subsection is life-threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel while:

           (i)   under the influence of alcohol; or

           (ii)   under the influence of alcohol per se.

           (3)   A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.

(d)    (1)   A person may not cause a life-threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s negligently driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel while the person is impaired by alcohol.

         (2)   A violation of this subsection is life-threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by alcohol.

          (3)   A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $3,000 or both.

(e)    (1)   A person may not cause a life-threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s negligently driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel while the person is so far impaired by a drug, a combination of drugs, or a combination of one or more drugs and alcohol that the person cannot drive, operate, or control a motor vehicle or vessel safely.

        (2)   A violation of this subsection is life-threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by drugs.

         (3)   A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $3,000 or both.

(f)    (1)   This subsection does not apply to a person who is entitled to use the controlled dangerous substance under the laws of the State.

         (2)   A person may not cause a life–threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s negligently driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel while the person is impaired by a controlled dangerous substance as defined in § 5–101 of this article.

         (3)   A violation of this subsection is life–threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance.

         (4)   A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.