The MD licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Maryland, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (mva.maryland.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 10 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the MD agency runs the licence case
- The MVA imposes suspension or revocation after a DUI arrest under Transportation Article § 16-205.
- A hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings is requested using the form included with the MVA notice.
- The MVA's Ignition Interlock Program is an alternative to full suspension for eligible drivers.
- Reinstatement after an alcohol-related revocation requires meeting eligibility rules and a waiting period, then MVA approval.
Maryland licence facts
Maryland DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Maryland code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Maryland)
- Controlling statute
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-902
- Implied consent
- Md. Code, Transp. § 16-205.1
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 10 days after arrest
- First-offense fine
- up to $1,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 1 year
- Licence suspension
- 6 months
- Trial court
- the District Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense can carry up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an ignition interlock device if the court or agency orders one.
- Maryland requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on mva.maryland.gov before you travel to an office.
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
- How long do I have to challenge a Maryland licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 10 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the MD licensing agency at mva.maryland.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Maryland?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 6 months suspension in Maryland. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.