If you were arrested for DUI in Maryland, two clocks start running the moment the officer hands you a temporary paper license: a criminal case clock and an administrative license clock. They move at different speeds, and missing a deadline on either one can cost you your license before your criminal case is even scheduled.
This page is a fast reference for the actual timeframes. For a full walkthrough of what happens at each stage, see our complete guide to the DUI legal process in Maryland.
The Two Clocks, Side by Side
| MVA (License) Case | Criminal Case | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts | At arrest | At arrest |
| First deadline | 10 days to request a hearing (MDDR-15A) | No action needed from you yet |
| Who decides | Office of Administrative Hearings | District or Circuit Court |
| Typical resolution | 60–90 days from hearing request | 3–6 months (first offense) |
| Can run independently of the other? | Yes — a dismissed criminal case does not automatically restore your license | Yes |
Detailed Timeline
Day 0 — Arrest You’re processed, and if you tested at .08 or above (or refused testing), your license is confiscated and a temporary paper license is issued, usually valid for 45 days.
Days 1–10 — MVA Hearing Request Window This is the deadline most people miss because they’re focused on the criminal side. Requesting a hearing within 10 days is what preserves your ability to challenge the suspension at all — miss it, and the suspension takes effect automatically regardless of how your criminal case turns out.
Weeks 1–4 — Arraignment Formal reading of charges in District Court. Most defendants enter a not-guilty plea at this stage and the court sets a future date. This is rarely the day anything gets decided.
Months 1–3 — Discovery and Pretrial Motions Your attorney requests and reviews the officer’s report, breathalyzer/blood test records, dashcam or bodycam footage, and calibration/maintenance logs for the testing device. Motions to suppress evidence, if warranted, are typically filed in this window.
Months 2–4 — Plea Negotiations Most Maryland DUI cases resolve here, not at trial. Outcomes at this stage range from a straight plea, to a reduced charge, to Probation Before Judgment (PBJ), to dismissal where the evidence doesn’t hold up.
60–90 Days — MVA Hearing Resolves The administrative case usually concludes faster than the criminal one, since it’s a narrower question: should your license be suspended, and for how long.
3–6 Months — Criminal Case Resolves (first offense, no aggravating factors) Cases involving an accident, injury, a minor passenger, or a prior offense commonly run 6–12 months or longer.
What Actually Moves the Timeline
- A contested breathalyzer or field sobriety result — expect the discovery and motions phase to run longer.
- Multiple charges stemming from the same stop (e.g., DUI plus a traffic offense) — court scheduling alone can add weeks.
- A prior DUI within the lookback period — the case is prosecuted more cautiously by the state and negotiations take longer.
- Which jurisdiction you’re in — court dockets in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and other jurisdictions move at different paces.
The One Deadline That Doesn’t Bend
Everything above has some flexibility except one thing: the 10-day MVA hearing request window. Courts routinely grant continuances on criminal court dates. The MVA does not extend the 10-day window for a missed request — it’s the single most common way people lose driving privileges before their case is even heard.
For the full explanation of what happens at each stage — including what to do in the first 24 hours and what to expect at your first court appearance