Yes – it’s always worth it to fight a DUI. Generally, you should always contest a driving under the influence (DUI) or a driving while impaired (DWI) charge at the start. This means that you should call our law office as soon as possible so we can explain all your rights, defenses, and options. It’s normally never an option to plead guilty at the initial arraignment. In many cases, even when it seems like the [...]
Driving under the influence is a serious crime that comes with serious penalties especially if it’s more than your first offense. Driving while intoxicated is not only a dangerous decision, but also one that can affect you for the rest of your life. From fines to jail time, to not being able to go to the college you want, get the job you want, or even the apartment you want, DUI charges have lasting repercussions [...]
A Maryland police officer who suspects that you are driving while intoxicated will likely flash the lights of their vehicle and/or sound the siren. Whether you’re on a highway or a local road, you will need to pull over to the shoulder or to any place where it is safe to stop. The officer will then likely knock on your passenger window and ask you to step out of the car. The officer will also [...]
If you have been charged and convicted with either driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI) in Maryland, after you have served your time and paid your penalties, you are likely eager to put it all behind you. As part of the process of moving past this period of your life, you may be wondering if it is possible to have your drunk driving conviction wiped from your criminal record. Although there [...]
Each year, state and federal governments – along with grassroots activists and non-profits – look for ways to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. They do this legislation, through tougher laws for DUI offenses, by setting up check stops, and more. The latest effort is a new piece of vehicle technology: alcohol detection sensors. The government is working on legislation that will require alcohol detection sensors in every new vehicle. These sensors [...]
Nobody wants an arrest – or charge, or conviction – for driving under the influence (DUI). We go to great lengths to avoid it, from assigning a designated driver to staying sober to calling a rideshare instead. What if these options fall through and you are left alone with your vehicle? You certainly do not want to leave it to chance, so you put your keys in your pocket and decide to “sleep it off” [...]
A DUI charge can derail and complicate your life in multiple ways. From high fines to substantial time behind bars, to the potentially loss of your employment, this is not a charge to brush off. Officers often decide to make arrests based on what they deem are the results of field sobriety tests. This means people can find themselves facing a DUI charge even when they should not be. Being charged, however, is not the [...]
A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or a DWI (Driving While Impaired) conviction in Maryland has serious consequences. The level of seriousness holds true whether the conviction is based on a DUI, where your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or more, or your conviction is based on a DWI, where your BAC is lower, but there are other impairment factors. If you’re charged with a DUI/DWI, you may also be charged with the following [...]
When charged for driving under the influence (DUI) in Maryland, you may be facing penalties like fines, a suspended license, jail, or an ignition interlock device. You might feel overwhelmed and hopeless about your case. However, you may have another option, especially if this is your first offense. The “Probation Before Judgment” (PBJ) disposition can provide eligible individuals charged with DUI offenses another, more rehabilitative path. Probation Before Judgment is a disposition unique to Maryland [...]
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous; it is against the law in Maryland. If you are caught, you can be charged with a DUI and face the loss of your rights, significant fines, and potentially even jail time. Often, people share misinformation about drinking and driving, and that misinformation can lead people to make dangerous and costly mistakes. Today, we wanted to address some of the more common [...]
