How to Find and Access Maryland DUI Records

Drunken driving kills and permanently maims thousands in United States every year. The numbers have been on the rise in some states in the recent past. Strict DUI laws and stricter enforcement measures are not the only ways of bringing down the number of drunken driving cases. What is also needed is awareness amongst the citizens.

What is a DUI Charge?

A person is charged with committing a DUI or “driving under the influence” (of alcohol and/or drugs) offense if he or she is proved guilty of driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol, banned drugs, or certain types of prescription and non-prescription medications. The charge is applicable to automobiles (like cars, trucks, and bikes) and all vehicles that may be used for work or recreational purposes.

Maryland DUI Laws and Penalties

Maryland follows the generalized DUI rules and regulations that have been adopted by the US states on August 2005. As per Maryland DUI laws (see http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Resources/DL-002A.pdf for more information) , a conviction can be for two reasons:
1. If the driver is found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level between 0.04% and 0.07%, or
2. If a driver, suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, fails a sobriety test conducted by a law    officer.

In the latter case, the driver may have BAC levels that are legally permissible, but the officer’s judgment will be considered paramount when filing a DUI charge.

If suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, a driver is asked to take a breathalyzer and/or a field sobriety test. The driver has the right to refuse the test, but the driver will face penalties (like suspension of license) for refusing the test, if later on found to be guilty of a DUI offense.

A DUI conviction is accompanied by heavy fines and punishments and these vary in degree if the DUI charge is a repeat offense.  They include the following:
* a compulsory prison sentence
* imposition of heavy fines
* suspension of license for a certain period of time
* installation of an ignition interlock device in the offender’s vehicle

In regards to the last penalty, the installation, rental, and maintenance charges to be borne by the convicted driver.

Why Do You Need to Search Maryland DUI Records?

Drunken driving is on the rise in Maryland, and the strict MD DUI laws and harsh punishment terms are the most effective ways to reduce the crime rates. However, in spite of such stringent measures, accidents continue to occur because there are offenders who drive vehicles with suspended or restricted licenses. Additionally, there are drivers who get back on the roads before completing alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs. It is for these shirkers of law that it is necessary for you to look through records of MD DUI cases and zero in on persons who you think are DUI offenders. Apart from the laws and the law enforcement officers, this is an extra precaution that will go a long way in reducing repeat DUI offenses.

You need to check the driving record of a suspected person for a number of reasons, such as the following:

1. If you run a logistics company or any vehicle hire service, it is always safe to go through the driving records of the person(s) who will be operating your vehicle. S/he could have been convicted of a DUI crime, and so you would need to issue warnings to him/her.

2. If you need to hire drivers or pilots employed under you and are operating your vehicles, it is important to protect your company. This is a good way to ensure that you are not in any way responsible for endangering your life or the lives of others on the road.

3. If your child may be in need of carpool services or you may have hired a new chauffeur, you must make sure that you check their driving records before you trust him/her with your child or your car.

Where to Search for Maryland DUI Records

Maryland is a member of the Interstate Driver’s License Compact, by which it is required to share information about DUI convictions and driver license actions with other constituent states. Maryland also makes public, information about DUI convictions in the state and this is available with the National Driver Registry (NDR).

The NDR is a computerized database of information on all US drivers. This extensive database contains the records of all drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked, had been involved in misdemeanor cases, or have been charged with committing DUI crimes.

You need to obtain a FAA Form 8060-13, from this site: http://forms.faa.gov/forms/faa8060-13.pdf.  There you can request a driver's license check for an individual from the NDR. Complete the form and send it via US mail only, to the following address:

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Bureau of Records, Neil Kirkman Building
PO Box 5775
Tallahassee Florida 32314

Or else you can submit this form at the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles, but the previous process is speedier.

A driving record from the National Driver Registry includes this following information: the present status of the driver's license, whether the license had ever been suspended or revoked, the name of the state where the crime was committed within the past five years, and mention of all DUI charges within the past five years.

While you are searching for driving records, keep in mind that you will need to provide the first and the last name of the person whose records you are searching for and the state where the offense was committed. The website will scour through hundreds and thousands of public and proprietary databases to look for the information that you have requested and will return your results in no time at all.

A driving record search result contains the name of the convicted person, all his/her addresses, a detailed description of his/her physical appearance, and the details of the DUI crime that he/she has been convicted of.

A MD DUI record is easy to look around for, because they are available for public viewing, provided you request for one. So, if a driver looks dubious or is behaving oddly, make sure that you look up his/her driving records to protect you and others on the road.