You may have heard the terms DUI and DWI before and wondered what they meant, or you may have been charged with a DUI or DWI and need to find a treatment program. There are a number of DUI/DWI programs in Baltimore that can help if you or a loved one have been charged with an offense. The professionals at The Bergand Group can help get your life back on track.
Understanding Your Charges
You need to understand your charges. What is a DUI? What is a DWI? Are they the same?
DUI stands for “Driving Under the Influence” and DWI means “Driving While Impaired” or “Driving While Intoxicated.” There is not a major difference between the two since they both designate operating a motor vehicle while sufficiently under the influence of drugs or alcohol to the extent that it endangers you and other motorists/passengers. The charge you receive will depend on the state that which the offense occurred in. Some states use either DWI or DUI to include all impaired driving offenses. Others use DUI for drug-impaired driving and DWI for alcohol-impaired driving.
Impact of DUI/DWI Charges
If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, your life can be impacted in a number of ways including:
- Your license could be restricted or suspended depending on the nature of the charge, the number of prior offenses, and if the driving resulted in damage to property or injury to another person.
- Insurance premiums can go up as much as 74 percent on average following a DUI/DWI charge.
- You can be court-ordered into a DUI/DWI program before your license is reinstated.
- The court could order you have an interlock device installed on your vehicle.
- You could go to jail, or be fined and ordered to pay restitution if any damages or injuries were the results of your impaired driving.
DUI/DWI Programs
If you have been charged with a DUI/DWI and need a DUI/DWI program, what steps do you take next? Contact the professionals at The Bergand Group, in the Baltimore area for MVA and DHMH approved DUI/DWI educational and aftercare programs to get you back on track.
