Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys

Drunk Driving Information

At Alpert Schreyer, our attorneys have over 20 years of experience helping people in Maryland fight their drunk driving charges. Our lead DUI defense attorney, Andrew Alpert, is one of the most well-known and well-respected DUI lawyers in the State of Maryland.

We can help, even if your case seems hopeless.

1-866-444-6363

Our firm represents people charged with DUI and drunk driving offenses in Bethesda, Anne Arundel County and throughout Maryland, including Rockville, Gaithersburg, Oxon Hill, Glen Burnie, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Bowie, College Park and Greenbelt. Contact us today for your free consultation!

More than 1.4 million drivers in the U.S. were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs last year. Law enforcement officers nationwide are stepping up their enforcement of the drunk driving laws, largely in response to public outcry and the influence of lobbying groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). If you find yourself caught up in this crackdown, you need a Maryland DUI attorney with experience defending drunk driving cases to look out for your interests and to help you get the best results possible.

Maryland Drunk Driving/DUI - An Overview

The crime of drunk driving in Maryland is also known as "driving under the influence," or DUI, and "driving while intoxicated," or DWI. In some states, the crime may be known as "operating while intoxicated, or OWI, or "operating under the influence," or OUI. The names vary according to how state laws refer to or define the crime. Whatever the name, the state laws all have a common aim of punishing those who drive while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. A drunk driving conviction carries with it serious and long-lasting consequences: jail or prison time, a heavy fine, and suspension or revocation of a driver's license. A person who is facing a drunk driving charge should not hesitate to seek immediate legal counsel from an experienced Maryland drunk driving defense attorney.

Read More

Parole & Probation in Drunk Driving Cases

Parole and probation are both supervisory-type mechanisms employed in the punishment phase of the criminal justice process. Parole comes into play after a person has been imprisoned and is released. Alternatively, probation refers to a criminal sentence, separate and distinct from incarceration. Probation is the most frequent sentence imposed and typically involves releasing the convicted offender into the community subject to a list of terms and conditions. The actual terms can vary widely, based on the underlying crime, the characteristics of the offender, and the resources of the probation system. All probations are subject to a requirement that the offender refrains from committing further crimes.

Persons convicted of drunk driving in Maryland may be placed on probation, or for subsequent offenses they may be given a jail or prison term and then paroled, subject to continuing supervision. Lawyers experienced in criminal defense and drunk driving law can explain the spectrum of possible punishments for drunk driving offenders and describe the differences in the possible sentences in greater detail.

Read More

The Prosecutor's Role in a Drunk Driving Case

Prosecution refers to the government's role in the criminal justice system. When criminal activity is suspected, it is often up to the government to investigate, arrest, charge, and bring the alleged offender to trial. Prosecutors are the lawyers who work for the government and who are responsible for developing and presenting the government's case against a defendant. Prosecutors may be called county attorneys, city attorneys, or district attorneys. The prosecutor is the opponent or "adversary" of the criminal defendant and his or her attorney; the two sides go head-to-head against each other in court. Because these public attorneys focus their energies on prosecuting criminal cases, they are generally very experienced in criminal law, and it is therefore essential to have an experienced defense attorney. Thus, in order to best preserve a criminal defendant's rights and strike a fair balance in court, representation by an experienced criminal defense attorney, particularly one knowledgeable in drunk driving law, is a must.

Read More

Challenging the Reliability of Breathalyzer Test Results

In all drunk driving cases, the prosecution must prove that the defendant's blood alcohol concentration at the time of the offense was at or above a statutory limit. In many states, the limit is .10 percent, but in others it is .08, and there is a national movement afoot to make .08 the limit in all states. In order to prove the requisite level of alcohol in the blood of someone arrested for drunk driving, it is necessary to obtain a suitable sample of the arrestee's blood, urine, or hair at the time of arrest. The use of a breath test is by far the most popular scientific method for establishing that drunk driving has occurred. Some defendants have been able to challenge the results of such tests in court successfully, thereby preventing a conviction. An attorney experienced in Maryland drunk driving defense law is in a strong position to advise a client whether the "Breathalyzer" test results may be subject to challenge in his or her particular case.

Read More

Drunk Driving and Auto Insurance

After serving a sentence and paying a fine, a person convicted of drunk driving is eager to return to life as it was before the charges. In most parts of the U.S., normal living-school, work, other activities- involves driving, and driving requires automobile insurance. While the worst parts of the charge may seem to be behind you, but you are then faced with yet another consequence: trying to obtain automobile insurance after a drunk driving conviction. An experienced DUI defense attorney can explain, and perhaps help you avoid, the range of consequences of a drunk driving conviction.

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions about Drunk Driving/DUI

Q: What is "blood-alcohol concentration" or "blood-alcohol level"?

A: Blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is the level of alcohol in the bloodstream from drinking alcoholic beverages. BAC readings are used in court as evidence in drunk-driving cases. The most common method of measure is a breath test, although blood and/or urine testing is sometimes done. A result of 08,or higher may establish a presumption of intoxication. The details of the .08 BAC presumption laws vary among the states, but all 50 states have adopted .08 as their official intoxication level, in large part because of a federal threat of otherwise withholding highway funds.

Q: Can I refuse a Breathalyzer® test?

A: Every state has its own version of an implied consent law providing that a driver impliedly consents to alcohol testing just by the act of driving. In many states, a refusal to take a breath test is itself a criminal violation subject to stiff penalties. For example, refusing a breath test might result in automatic drivers-license suspension or revocation. If you are ultimately found guilty of a drunk-driving offense, there may be additional penalties because of the test refusal, such as a stiffer sentence. Your test refusal may also be used as evidence against you in a drunk-driving case.

Read More

Drunk Driving/DUI Resource Links

National Commission Against Drunk Driving
NCADD develops strategies and programs focusing on the reduction of incidents of driving while impaired.

Impaired Driving Division - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Developing partnerships to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care costs resulting from impaired driving.

Read More

 

Free Consultations • Credit Cards Accepted

From our offices in Maryland, our Bowie criminal defense and DUI/DWI lawyers handle cases throughout the entire state of Maryland, including the Eastern Shore of Maryland, including the counties of Montgomery County, Howard County, Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Charles County and Frederick County, as well as the cities of Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Upper Marlboro, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, LaPlata, Oxon Hill and Waldorf.

In Session LIVE
on truTV

Andrew Alpert shares his views on a triple homicide trial in New Mexico.

In Session LIVE
on truTV

Andrew Alpert discusses the hearings of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

In Session LIVE
on truTV

Andrew Alpert discusses Florida vs. Fast with host Dan Abrahams.

In Session LIVE
on truTV

Andrew Alpert shares his legal opinion with TruTV host Lisa Bloom.

ALPERT SCHREYER

16901 Melford Boulevard, Suite #325
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 262-7005 | (866) 444-6363
Scan on mobile for directions

8 Post Office Road
Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997 | (800) 301-7172
Scan on mobile for directions

22776 Three Notch Road, Suite #201
California, Maryland 20653-3370
(301) 863-9997 | (866) 444-6363
Scan on mobile for directions

Client Reviews

5  Mr. Alpert is an excellent attorney!!

I would highly recommend him to others for representation in their legal matters. He remained dedicated and professional throughout my process. Additionally, the lines of communication were always open - he was never 'too' busy to speak to. Thank you!!

-


homefirm overviewattorney profilespractice areastestimonialsresource linkscontact usblog

Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Attorney Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

© 2012 by Law Offices of Alpert Schreyer. Bethesda DUI Defense Attorneys - Bowie Criminal Defense Lawyers. All Rights Reserved.

Website Design, SEO and Legal Internet Marketing by:  SLS ConsultingSitemapDisclaimer

Close Window [X]