A Maryland man was recently held in a county jail for more than 35 hours following a motor vehicle accident. Investigators estimated approximately $10,000 in property damage. The collision occurred when the man’s vehicle struck a curb, careened into a median and then a tree. Police say he had several visible injuries, which is why they sent him to the hospital to obtain medical clearance before transporting him to jail for suspected DUI.
The DUI and DUI-causing damage charges that were filed against the 31-year-old man are not the only legal problems he has had of late. He has also faced several vandalism charges in connection with damage that was done to a co-worker’s vehicle. A police officer who responded to the recent accident scene claimed to have smelled alcohol on the man’s breath, although the driver declined the request to take a field sobriety or preliminary breath test.
Such tests are not obligatory in a Maryland DUI stop
A driver is not obligated to perform a field sobriety test or roadside breath test during a suspected DUI traffic stop or, as in this case, during an accident investigation. However, an individual who does so may wind up facing drunk driving charges in court if law enforcement determines that probable cause for an arrest exists.
Every case must be tried on its own merit. However, a person’s criminal record may be relevant to a specific case, such as if a DUI arrest occurred and the person arrested was violating probation or had an active arrest warrant in Maryland regarding a separate issue. When a person is dealing with multiple charges, it is best to rely on experienced criminal defense support in court.