How Maryland DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Maryland is prosecuted in the District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Misdemeanor DUI and DWI are tried in the Maryland District Court, while jury-demand and felony-level cases proceed in the Circuit Court for the county. Appeals from District Court go to the Circuit Court, and Circuit Court appeals go to the Appellate Court of Maryland and then the Supreme Court of Maryland.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at courts.state.md.us. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Maryland
A DUI case in Maryland is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-902 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Maryland's implied-consent section, Md. Code, Transp. § 16-205.1. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — The MVA imposes suspension or revocation after a DUI arrest under Transportation Article § 16-205. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. Misdemeanor DUI and DWI are tried in the Maryland District Court, while jury-demand and felony-level cases proceed in the Circuit Court for the county.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. The Maryland Judiciary files through Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) statewide.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 6 months. A first offense can carry up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- 6Reinstatement — The MVA's Ignition Interlock Program is an alternative to full suspension for eligible drivers. Maryland requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Maryland
- The Maryland Judiciary files through Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) statewide.
- District Courts are courts of record.
- The core offense sits at Transportation Article § 21-902.
- MVA licence action runs alongside, and separately from, the criminal case.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Maryland ZIP codes covered
These Maryland ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Maryland resources
Counties
Other Maryland official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Maryland?
- First-offense DUI cases in Maryland are heard in the District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Maryland?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the MD driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.