David N. Mabrey, Esq.

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Maryland police officer detains a distressed young man near a patrol car with flashing lights at sunset as teens gather in the background after a summer celebration, illustrating the consequences of underage DUI.

The Summer “Under 21” DUI Surge: Protecting Your Graduate’s Future

Every June and July, underage DUI arrests in Maryland spike. Graduation parties, beach weekends, Fourth of July celebrations — and for some families, a phone call no parent is prepared for. Maryland’s zero-tolerance law sets the limit for drivers under 21 at just .02 BAC. Here’s what that means, what’s actually at stake, and why the decisions made in the first 48 hours matter more than most families realize.

Maryland police officer conducting a traffic stop with flashing patrol lights while checking a driver’s license beside a “License Suspended MD” sign and blog headline about jail time for driving on a suspended license.

Can You Go to Jail for Driving on a Suspended License in Maryland?

Driving on a suspended license in Maryland is not a payable traffic ticket — it’s a criminal misdemeanor with potential jail time, up to 12 points on your record, and a mandatory court appearance. What most people don’t know is that there are two versions of this charge under Maryland law, with wildly different consequences. Which one applies to you depends entirely on why your license was suspended — and officers routinely file the more serious version even when the facts don’t support it.

Maryland state trooper conducting a summer traffic stop on Route 50 near Route 301 with police lights flashing and Ocean City highway signs visible.

Summer Traffic Stops on Route 50 and Route 301: When a Simple Citation Turns Into a Criminal Charge

May 13, 2026/0 Comments/in Traffic Offenses /by David N. Mabrey, Esq.

Every summer, Maryland law enforcement floods Route 50 and Route 301 with coordinated enforcement operations targeting the millions of drivers heading to the Eastern Shore. What most people don’t realize is how fast a speeding ticket escalates — a suspended license discovered at the stop, an open container that triggers a DUI investigation, a warrant that results in an arrest on the shoulder of Route 50. Here’s what’s actually happening on these roads and what to do if your traffic stop takes a turn you didn’t expect.

Welcome sign for Maryland’s Eastern Shore beside a coastal highway at sunset, symbolizing relocation and new resident legal considerations.

Moving to Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Common Legal Mistakes New Residents Make in Centreville, Stevensville, and Chestertown

May 13, 2026/0 Comments/in Criminal Defense, Traffic Offenses /by David N. Mabrey, Esq.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore is attracting more new residents every year — and most of them arrive assuming the legal landscape works the way their home state did. It doesn’t. From firearm transport laws that carry mandatory minimum jail time, to a 60-day window to register your vehicle, to custody relocation rules that can result in losing primary custody if ignored, the mistakes new residents make here are rarely intentional. They are almost always expensive.

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107 Court St, Chestertown, MD 21620

Office: 410-778-1630

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8611 Fort Smallwood Rd, Suite C, Pasadena, MD 21122

Office: 443-702-7708
Fax: 443-702-7709
Cell: 443-848-2878 (Cell for Emergency/New Accident Only)

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