So you’ve been pulled over in Maryland and the officer suspects that you have been drinking and driving. You don’t know what to do. You wish you could call a Maryland DUI attorney and ask for their advice. Can you? Go ahead and do it…. Maryland recognizes a “14th Amendment” due process right to confer Read More
I Have Been Arrested For a Maryland DUI, But I Am Under 21. Will I Go To Jail?
If you have been arrested for a Maryland DUI or DWI, and you are under the age of 21, jail time is not inevitable. The facts of the case, the judge, the prosecutor, your record, and the jurisdiction and county the case will be heard in, all play a role in determining your sentence (if Read More
FAQ: I Failed The Breath Test, How Can A Lawyer Help?
If you’ve recently been charged in Maryland and are facing a DUI/DWI charge, don’t give up (even if there was high breath result!). In Maryland, just because you “failed” the breath test or blew a very high result, does not mean that all is lost. Having a Maryland drunk driving or dui attorney properly analyze Read More
Why a Negligent Driving Charge Isn’t As Bad As It Sounds
If you’ve been charged with negligent driving in Maryland, don’t panic. Its a very common charge and isn’t as bad as it sounds. According to the Maryland traffic code, “A person is guilty of negligent driving if he drives a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner that endangers any property or the life Read More
Maryland Provisional Driver’s License: Convictions
Maryland traffic citatons are treated differently with regards to a Maryland provisional license. In Maryland, if you have a provisional driver’s license and receive a PBJ (probation before judgment), the Maryland MVA will consider that a conviction. If you have a “full” driver’s license, however, a PBJ is not considered a conviction for purposes of Read More
In Maryland, what is DUI per se?
In Maryland, DUI per se simply means that the Defendant was given a breathalyzer test and had a B.A.C. (blood alcohol content) of .08 or above. Unless the accuracy of the reading is sucessfully challenged, a judge or jury could convict a Defendant solely on the basis of that reading. Therefore, even if the Defendant Read More
In Maryland, what’s the difference between DUI and DWI?
In Maryland, the crime of “drunk driving” is distinguished by the level of impairment. DWI means “driving while impaired.” The maximum penalty is sixty days in jail (and 8 points). DUI means “driving under the influence.” The maximum penalty for a DUI is one year in jail (and 12 points). Obviously, DUI is the more Read More
Will my Maryland probation be violated for a minor traffic offense?
Quick answer: Probably not — but the word “probably” is doing real work there. A speeding ticket or a stop sign violation is very unlikely to cost you your probation, and Maryland law caps what a judge can do about it at 15 days for a first offense. A jailable traffic charge is a different Read More
My License is Suspended, How Do I Fix It?
As a Maryland traffic ticket attorney, I get this question multiple times a week. The answer is that it depends on the reason for the suspension. More often than not, it is an unpaid ticket. If this is the issue, you have to get the citation number (s) for your ticket (s), and pay it Read More
The Importance of an Alcohol Assessment for a Maryland DUI Case
If you’ve been charged with a DUI or DWI in Maryland, an alcohol assessment is an important component to your case. An alcohol assessment is usually a process whereby a professional evaluates you and determines if you are an alcohol abuser and what course of action you should pursue (treatment, education classes, etc.). An assessment is Read More