Southern Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys
DUI/DWI Information
Your Constitutional rights don't disappear after an arrest for DWI/DUI in Maryland -- but it might seem like they do. In every part of the United States, a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) over a specified limit is enough to allow law enforcement to charge you with drunk driving and take away your license. They don't know whether you were actually drunk, how safely you drove or what other circumstances might apply. But that doesn't mean you cant defend yourself. Drivers can and often do mount successful defenses against intoxicated-driving charges, using law enforcements own misconduct and mistakes as well as the latest science on alcohol absorption and testing.
In their haste to crack down on unsafe, intoxicated drivers, Capitol-area legislators have made some of the nations harshest laws against drunk driving. Maryland and Washington. D.C. are two of a minority of jurisdictions that penalize people over 21 for driving with a blood-alcohol concentration below the legal per se limit. A test showing a BAC of 0.07 will get you criminally charged with driving while impaired (DWI) in Maryland and driving under the influence in Washington, D.C. A BAC of 0.08 or more gets you a more serious charge of DUI in Maryland and DWI in Washington, D.C.
In both jurisdictions, a DWI or DUI arrest automatically triggers a drivers license suspension or revocation separate from the criminal case. Maryland drivers can contest these license suspensions through the MVA, but must request a hearing within ten days of their arrests in order to keep driving.
On a first conviction in Maryland, drivers could get:
- A 45-day license suspension for DUI and up to 60 days for DWI.
- Up to $1,000 in fines for DUI and up to $500 for DWI.
- Up to one year in jail for DUI and up to 60 days for DWI.
- Twelve license points for DUI; eight for DWI.
In addition, all DUI/DWI charges come with skyrocketing auto insurance costs, an embarrassing criminal record and possible trouble at work, especially if you need a drivers license or security clearance for your job. Repeat DUI offenders could get higher fines, jail time and license suspension time, as well as possible installation of an ignition interlock device (a breathalyzer you must pass before the car can start). Refusing to take a breath test in Maryland or Washington, D.C. will be used as evidence of your guilt in court, and it could get your license suspended for four months in Maryland.
Meng & Alpert, LLC attorney Andrew Alpert is skilled in Maryland and D.C. DWI/DUI laws and a leader in the Maryland DUI defense community. His training goes well beyond most attorneys; he attended the National College of DUI Defense and received advanced training in drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter during his 19 years as a prosecutor. That training helps him understand DUI/DWI prosecutions from law enforcements perspective, significantly enhancing his ability to defend his clients. He has defended well over 500 Maryland DUI/DWI cases, representing many high-profile clients, and speaks frequently to law enforcement about Maryland drunk driving laws.
If you've been arrested for DWI, DUI or another alcohol-related vehicle offense, there's no time to lose. Call the DUI/DWI attorney at Meng & Alpert, LLC as soon as possible for help keeping your license, your job and your freedom. Our Bethesda Maryland DUI defense lawyers have had great success reducing or eliminating charges altogether for our clients in over hundreds of DWI/DUI cases. Contact us today using our confidential online case evaluation form, or call 1-866-444-6363 for a free consultation.
Additional DUI Information
- Maryland DUI Intake Form
- Driving Under the Influence Information
- Maryland Drunk Driving/DUI - An Overview
- Parole & Probation in Drunk Driving Cases
- The Prosecutor’s Role in a Drunk Driving Case
- Challenging the Reliability of Breathalyzer Test Results
- Drunk Driving and Auto Insurance
- Maryland Drunk Driving FAQ’s
- Drunk Driving/DUI Resource Links
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