Published on 03/20/2018 11:26 am
What will happen with a first offense DUI in Maryland? Most first offense DUI charges in Maryland result in a PBJ as the outcome. A PBJ is an acronym for “probation before judgment.” A PBJ is defined in Maryland Criminal Procedure 6-220(b).
BENEFITS OF A PBJ IN A DUI CASE
A PBJ means that the defendant has not been found guilty. The law states, “a court may stay the entering of judgment, defer further proceedings, and place the defendant on probation subject to reasonable conditions…” When the Court “stay the entering of judgment” it is not entering a guilty finding and instead enters a PBJ for the charge or charges.
If the Court “stays” the entering of judgment, then the Court has not found you guilty and you can say in the future that you have not been convicted.
Another benefit of a PBJ is points will not be assessed to the driver’s Maryland driving record. Maryland Transportation Article 16-402 states, “After the conviction of an individual for a
