When someone has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Maryland, a criminal attorney in Cambridge, MD might be able to have the charge reduced to reckless driving. This particular charge, often referred to as “wet reckless” because alcohol was involved, is a lesser charge than DUI. The individual would be required to plead guilty to that charge and give up the chance to be found not guilty in court. Lawyers may recommend this action if the evidence against the driver is clear and no technical errors were made by law enforcement. Some states prohibit this type of plea bargain, but Maryland is not one of them.
There are important aspects to understand when considering this possibility that a criminal attorney in Cambridge, MD can explain in detail to the client. Some advantages of pleading this charge down from a DUI to wet reckless include not having a DUI on the record, receiving a lower financial penalty, avoiding driver’s license suspension and jail time. However, the automotive insurance rates will still probably spike dramatically, since underwriters know that reckless driving is a significant risk factor for accidents.
The person hoping to plead guilty to wet reckless will likely only be successful if the blood alcohol content was borderline high and if this is the first offense. Prosecutors do not want to be viewed as lenient on the issue of drunk driving, particularly if they have ambitions for higher office or a political future. They are extremely unlikely to agree to this arrangement if the driver caused any sort of accident, even if it was something relatively minor like backing into a utility pole at a low speed.
Another aspect the driver must understand is that this plea bargain does not mean another DUI will be considered the first one. These plea bargains usually have the stipulation that a second offense essentially converts the wet reckless conviction to a DUI conviction. The conviction of reckless driving stays on the record and there are no retroactive penalties, but the second offense is handled under laws addressing repeat DUI offenders. An attorney such as Marc A. Zeve is ready to answer any questions about the right way to handle a DUI arrest; visit the website for contact information.
