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Attorney Offices by Municipality

• Aberdeen
  • Steven J. Scheinin
  : With the summer almost here and in anticipation of those fine weekends which we will be enjoying crabs and beer and going to the ocean for fun and relaxation, the Maryland State Police are out there looking for the drunk driver. With their speed traps, sobriety check points, and the staking out of watering holes, they will amass a great number of arrests for driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while impaired. [The distinction between the two is the amount of alcohol in the blood at the time of the test]. With highway fatalities on a greater increase as a result of drunk driving, it is not unexpected that the police, both county and state, are cracking down on drunk drivers. Your chances of being stopped, and maybe arrested, for a traffic offense are much greater now than they were even a few years ago. Most people have never been arrested or searched. Should you be stopped as being a suspected drunk driver, do no argue with the police officer. The officer will ask you to perform a field sobriety test (walk a line, finger to nose, etc.) the law does not require you to perform these tests, nor answer any questions of the police officer. The officer may offer you a preliminary breath test (PBT). This test is to give an indication to the officer of whether or not you may be intoxicated. Its unfavorable results are not admissible in court, while its favorable results are admissible. Therefore there is no detriment to you in taking this test. However, refusal to take the breathalyzer test at the police station will result in the temporary suspension of your driver's license and notification to the Court or Jury of your refusal. Maryland State law mandates the automatic suspension of your driving license for 45 days if your blood alcohol concentration exceeds .08%. The police officer will arrest you and confiscate your driving license. The most important thing in this situation is do not resist arrest. It is a crime to do so. An officer is entitled to use reasonable force to keep you in his custody. If the arrest was illegal or improper, you may take legal action later. It is not an arrest for the officer to stop and question you briefly. He may demand your driver's license and vehicle registration. Once the officer has arrested you, he is permitted to make a search of you and the area around you. The purpose of the search is to look for weapons for the protection of the officer. Should he come across any illegal items, such as narcotics or evidence to show that you were drinking, such as beer bottles or cans, he may seize them without a warrant. You will have to sign for your traffic ticket to avoid arrest, so do so. Your signature is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that you received the citation and promise to respond to the ticket. The penalty for drunk driving in the State of Maryland for a first offense is one year and/or $1,000.00 fine. The penalty increases for subsequent convictions. Consultation with an attorney immediately after receiving a ticket is essential. An attorney can be of great assistance in either preventing your license from being suspended altogether or to limit the conditions of the suspension. You should not consider going to court on a drunk driving charge without an attorney. At the minimum, the penalty for a conviction of driving while under the influence of alcohol is revocation of your driver's license. Maryland Judges, both in Circuit and District Court, in recent years have been very severe on punishment for drunk driving convictions. Some of our Judges have had personal experience in their private lives with the impact of drunk driving upon their families and lives. With the number of innocent lives being wasted as a result of drunk driving accidents, the trend across the State of Maryland has been for the imposition of severe penalties, even on a first offense. Use common sense, make arrangements for transportation prior to drinking. Should you decide to drink and then drive, you should expect a sever penalty upon your conviction. Do not argue with the police officer, be respectful to him and show him common courtesy. This will help you in Court more that any other aspect of your case.
• Annapolis
• Arbutus
  • Steven Shemnski: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
• Baltimore
• Bel Air
• Bethesda
  • Lloyd Malech: If you are facing drunk driving charges, you need an experienced DUI & DWI lawyer to protect and defend your rights. Your freedom could be at risk. Not only that, a conviction for drunk driving or any other criminal charge - even a misdemeanor - can have negative consequences on both your personal life and your work life far into the future.
  • Belsky & Purdum: The second category of traffic violations are known as "major offenses" and include, among other charges, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/Alcohol (DUI) and Driving on a Suspended License. If you are convicted of a major offense, you may be subject to imprisonment and/or a substantial fine. If you are charged with a major offense, you must appear in court. Unlike minor offenses, you cannot pay the fine to avoid going to court. Anyone charged with a major offense should be represented by an attorney. An attorney will have the legal know-how to object to evidence and questions, and is better able to offer to the court reasons why you deserve leniency if you are found guilty of the offense.
• Bowie
  • Walsh, Becker, Moody & Rice: If you have been charged with a crime, it is critical to protect your rights by retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney who will fight for you. A criminal conviction can have a lasting impact on your employment opportunities and your freedom. Retaining an attorney is the first step to protecting your rights.
  • Darlene Powell: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
  • Gabriel Christian: If You are Arrested Before the police takes you into custody, make sure that your house or car is secure. Make sure you have been informed as to why you are being arrested. NOTE: A lawyer should be called as soon as possible. The advise of an attorney is extremely important early in the process. Under no circumstances should you make incriminating statements which might be used against you at a later time. In most states, you must be taken before a judge, magistrate, constable or court commissioner within 24 hours of your arrest. You should secure legal representation before this initial court appearance. Ask to telephone your parent, guardian, or lawyer immediately. Yo have the right to make one phone call to the person of your choice; use it. You also have the right to privacy during the call. If this right is denied, do not cause a confrontation that might result in additional charges being filed against you. You should always have the number of a lawyer or a person you can rely on to get you an attorney if your lawyer is unavailable. Keep a record of that number, as well as the name and number of a lawyer in your wallet or purse.
  • Goodwin Schlossberg: DUI/DWI- Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly when a driver is accused of driving under the influence. A conviction on DUI/DWI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of your driver's license, and possible jail time. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in such a difficult case.
• Cantonsville
  • Janey & Dixon: The State of Maryland takes the crime of drunk driving very seriously. Persons who have been arrested for DUI or DWI need to take the charge seriously too. The arrest will very likely lead to the suspension of your driver's license. DUI/DWI conviction can lead to a hefty fine and a possible jail sentence. If you face a DUI or DWI charge, effective representation by an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential.
  • Marc Peitersen: If youÑor a friend or loved oneÑhas been pulled over by the highway patrol and charged with drunk driving, you have a limited amount of time to save your driver's license. In Maryland, if you blew above .08, you face an administrative hearing to revoke your driver's license as well as criminal penalties. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration will suspend your driver's license automatically if you do not ask for a hearing within 10 days from the date of your arrest.
• Chesterfield
  • Roberts Law Firm: DWI doesn't just happen to the other guy. This time it happened to you. Now you need to find an experienced lawyer who will help keep you out of jail and help you keep your driver's license. There are hundreds of lawyers in St. Louis who will tell you they can clear your charges. But when you look closely at their record of success, you discover that most of them make empty promises, with no experience to back up their claims.
• College Park
  • Ronald Schwartz: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
  • Steven Jacoby: If you've been charged with a crime or arrested for drunk driving, your liberty is at risk. You need immediate, aggressive, and experienced representation to protect your rights.
  • Kemet & Hunt: Criminal Law - "Innocent until proven guilty," most of us are familiar with this phrase. Often times, however, a person is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
• Columbia
• Cumberland
  • Steven Friend: It is NOT against the law in Maryland to drive after having consumed alcohol. It IS against the law to drive after consuming enough alcohol to impair your driving abilities, or in legal terminology, "drinking to the extent of probably affecting one's judgement and discretion or probably affecting one's nervous system to the extent that there is a failure of normal coordination. It is also against the law to consume alcoholic beverages while driving. Therefore, avoid having open alcohol containers in your vehicle while you are driving and refrain from driving after you have drank enough to affect your judgement, coordination, discretion or reflexes.
• Damascus
  • Stephen Leas:
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    • What is a Breathalyzer test?
    • Should you take a Breathalyzer test?
    • What impact does a DWI or DUI have on your driver's license?
    • What is the legal level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for a DWI?
    • What is the legal level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for a DUI?
    • Will I have an Administrative Hearing before the Motor Vehicle Administration and what do I do?
    • What are the penalties for a DWI or DUI conviction?
    • What do I do if I've had a prior DUI or DWI conviction.?
    • What is a PBT?
    • What is a PBJ and am I eligible for one?
• Edgewood
  • Abercrombie Law Office: The U.S. Supreme Court has generally interpreted the Fourth Amendment prohibition against "unreasonable searches and seizures" to impose a warrant requirement upon police officers who wish to perform a valid search or arrest. However, the Court has carved out some exceptions to the warrant requirement, which make certain "seizures" constitutionally permissible in the absence of a warrant.
• Ellicott City
• Elkton
• Forrestville
  • Burton, Aubrey: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
• Frederick
  • Richard Bricken: Whether you or someone close to you has been charged with either a crime or major traffic offense, you need a lawyer. Too often we hear the words "But I'm innocent, I don't need a lawyer." Unfortunately, that's when you need an attorney most in order to protect your rights under the United States Constitution and the Maryland Declaration of Rights. The best time to contact an attorney is before charges are actually brought, but that is not always possible, especially in traffic cases.
• Ft. Washington
  • Nick Kourtesis: In today's society, a vehicle is a necessity. Our goal is to protect your right to own and operate a vehicle. The first line of defense is to challenge the reason that you were stopped. There are bad stops! There are many things that you need to do before appearing in front of a judge. We know what these things are and we strongly urge you to move quickly and contact my firm if you have been arrested or cited for a traffic offense. If it is your first arrest, the goal is make sure that you can continue driving. For second offenses, the goal is often to keep you out of jail and able to continue providing for your family.
  • James N. Papirmeister: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
• Gaithersberg
• Glen Burnie
• Greenbelt
• Hyattsville
  • Malik Shakur: Conviction of a crime may bring a sentence including fines, probation, imprisonment or other judicial discipline. It is important to seek competent legal advice from a criminal defense lawyer as early in this process as possible. Criminal offenses are violations of public law. Federal and State laws generally include two categories of varying severity.
• Largo
  • Mitchell Pressman: Criminal Law If you have appeared without an attorney in District Court on a criminal or serious traffic matter (ie.,one with potential jail time) you were undoubtedly informed by the Judge that you are potentially facing jail time and would be wise to get legal representation. The Judge then asked you if you wanted time to hire an attorney. In some cases the Judge may have asked if you wanted to apply to use the Public Defender or to obtain a private attorney. Perhaps you qualified for a Public Defender and decided to use their services (they generally do a better job than people give them credit for). But maybe you didn't qualify for a Public Defender. Did you know where to turn? If you hadn't dealt with lawyers or legal problems before, you probably did not.
• La Plata
  • Jenkins & Jenkins: If you are charged with a DUI, DWI, Driving While Suspended and/or Revoked are other serious traffic offenses, they carry substantial penalties, both by way of fine, potential jail time and points on your driving record. A lawyer can help you not only by recognizing technical legal defenses, by knowing what the Judge is likely to do, given the circumstances of your case and what you can do to improve the odds of a favorable disposition.
  • Wolfgang & Buchanan: Your lawyer will evaluate your case to see if all of your Constitutional rights were protected. Was the stopping of your vehicle legal? Did you voluntarily consent to be searched? Was the breathalyzer machine working properly? Did you understand your rights as they were explained? These are some of the issues that your lawyer will be looking for. In addition to that, your lawyer is also trained to look for the things that you did right during the stop, and may be able to use these clues to persuade the prosecutor to give you a better plea offer.
• Largo
  • Kelsey & DeBerry: DUI/DWI -ÊDRUNKÊDRIVING Drunk driving is a serious offense. Being arrested for drunk driving, whether for driving under the influence (DUI), or driving while intoxicated (DWI), can be a stressful and traumatic experience. Penalties may include suspension or loss of license, jail or prison time, probation, substantial fines, increased insurance premiums and a permanent criminal record.
• North Bethesda
  • Orenburg Law Firm: Traffic offenses are no longer minor offenses, especially along the I-95 corridor in Washington, D.C.
• Ocean City
• Ocean Pines
  • Christopher Llinas: If you have a legal problem, you should consult with an attorney who can investigate the particular circumstances of your situation.
  • Terri Taylor: Being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated or impaired by drugs doesn't have to be a devastating experience.
• Old Bridge
  • Goldstein & Bachman:

    As in all states, in New Jersey it is a crime to operate a vehicle while impaired by the effects of alcohol or drugs. The offense may be called driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). Whatever the term, New Jersey DUI / DWI laws make it illegal for a person to operate a car, truck, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle if:

    • The driver's ability to safely operate the vehicle is impaired by the effects of alcohol
    • The driver is intoxicated at a level above established DUI standards, such as blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). In New Jersey, this level is defined as a BAC of .10%.

    New Jersey has serious drunk driving penalties. If you are found guilty on DUI charges, you will lose all driving privileges for a minimum of six months and may face fines of up to $700. In addition, you will be faced with increased automobile insurance rates and insurance surcharges to the state.

• Owings Mills
• Pikesville
  • Jay Liner: Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly when a driver is accused of driving under the influence. A conviction on DUI/DWI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of your driver's license, and possible jail time. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in such a difficult case.
• Prince Frederick
  • Ian Pesetsky: Both the prosecution and a defendant have a right to request that certain instructions be submitted to a jury when a trial court charges the jury. A request for the instructions must be made in writing and must be presented to the trial court prior to the trial court's charge to the jury. The request may also be dictated to a court reporter in the presence of the trial court and counsel for both parties.
  • Larry Lamson: Lawyers are trained to read and interpret statutes (laws). Depending on your personal criminal background, there may be complicated sentencing matters to consider. A lawyer can explain to you the possible outcomes, and they will be aware of the individual sentencing patterns of your local judges.
• Rockville
• Salisbury
  • MacDonald, Andrew: If you have been charged with drunk driving, you need to act quickly to protect your right to drive. In Maryland, if you do not request an administrative hearing with the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) within 10 days after your arrest, your license will be automatically suspended. Don't let it go that far. Call me immediately after your arrest so that we can take the necessary steps to preserve your license. In many cases there can be much harsher consequences for a driver's license through the MVA administrative process than through the criminal court. I urge you to consult with an attorney early during the MVA process to get competent advice on whether to request a hearing.
  • James Anthenelli: In practice, most criminal cases are resolved through plea bargains, not trials. The accused may waive the right to a jury trial, but this must usually be done in writing and before a judge, with some verification that the accused understands the right waived. Furthermore, despite the constitutional provision, not all criminal prosecutions require a jury trial, for example: In many states, there is no right to a jury in trials of juveniles/minors. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed trials without a jury in state and federal courts for minor offenses that do not carry the threat of prison time or large fines. One noteworthy decision guarantees the right to jury trial only for offenses punishable by more than six months in prison and/or a $500 fine. However, trials for multiple offenses, whose aggregate penalties total that much or more, do not require a jury trial. Those actions which are not technically criminal, yet can result in imprisonment and other sanctions, do not entitle the accused to a jury trial. A contempt proceeding is an example of such an action. However, departure from this rule has been observed when sanctions are sufficiently serious.
  • Robins, Johnson & Wade: Under Maryland law, any person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this state is deemed to have consented to take a test if the person should be detained on suspicion of driving or attempting to drive while intoxicated (DWI) or under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.
• Severn
  • William Trevillian: Being arrested for a criminal offense is a frightening experience for both the person arrested and his or her family and friends. What happens next? How will this affect the future?
• Severna Park
  • Michael Wilsman: If you are facing a more serious misdemeanor or minor felony charge, you could be facing a loss of civil rights and jail or prison.  You have the right to have your attorney represent you at every stage of a criminal proceeding.
  • Ray Carignan: Penalties A fine of up to $500.00 and up to 2 months in jail. While transporting a minor: 1st offense - a fine of up to $1,000.00 and up to 6 months in jail; 2nd offense and subsequent offenses- a fine of up to $2,000.00 and up to 1 year in jail.
  • Christopher Flohr: If the government, whether State or Federal, is tying to convict you of a crime, you need to aggressively defend against such charges. A criminal conviction will have long lasting consequences including fines, court costs, and jail or prison time. You need an attorney with knowledge and experience in criminal defense.
• Silver Spring
• Solomons
  • Regis Johnston: Drunk-driving charges can have serious immediate and long-term consequences. You could immediately face: ¥ Suspension of your driver's license ¥ Hundreds of dollars of fines ¥ Driving school ¥ Costs to get your license back ¥ A black mark on yourÊdriving record ¥ Astronomical insurance rates, or no ability to get insurance at all Drunk-driving charges stay on your driving record for lifeÑand they will remain on your record if you move to another state. For every additional DUI / DWI charge you haveÑeven if your last charge was 15 years agoÑyou will be facing: ¥ Increasingly severe fines and penalties ¥ Jail time that increases with each offense ¥ Longer suspension or absolute revocation of your driver's license DUI is one of the most serious criminal charges that an average person can face. It is important to challenge every drunk-driving charge while you can. Once it is on your record, you will not be able to get it removed.
• Towson
• Unknown
  • Jacobs, Neil: When a defendant is convicted of a criminal offense, the defendant is usually required to pay fines and costs as part of his or her sentence. If the defendant has only been ordered to pay fines and costs, the defendant will be discharged from a judgment requiring fines and costs upon full payment of the fines and costs to the proper authorities.
• Upper Marlboro
• Waldorf
  • Knicely, Albert: We live in a country in which our culture is saturated in alcohol. Everywhere you go or look, alcohol surrounds us. In television advertisements, at sporting events, at grocery stores, on t-shirts and hats, etc. Our religions have it, it is present at holiday parties, and it will always be at weddings. Despite the widespread influence by the alcohol industry and our cultures, we are expected to use self control to know when to say when every time. This includes when you have dinner at a restaurant, or have a few at your work party. This is a no tolerance policy and you do not get a chance or a warning if you decide to have one too many and get pulled over by the police. A traffic offense is usually the reason why you are pulled over. This can include failing to stay right of center, speeding or erratic speed, and failure in vehicle equipment. Once pulled over, the officer will approach your vehicle and will be looking for any cues that alcohol may be playing a part in the stop, including: Odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, statements that you were drinking, fumbling fingers, etc. If any of these cues are present, it is likely that you will be taken out of your car and asked to perform three tests referred to as Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. These tests are the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, the Walk-and-Turn, and the One Leg Stand. The results of these tests will be used to determine whether you will be arrested and charged with a drinking and driving offense. The results of the tests will also be used against you at your court trial as evidence of your impairment. It is also important to remember that any statements you make to the officers will also be used against you. If you are arrested and charged with drinking and driving offenses, you will face two separate tribunals: MVA & Court The MVA will schedule a hearing for you if you request one. At the hearing, you have the opportunity to show why your license should not be revoked or suspended. Your breath test result will in large part determine how your driving privilege will be handled. If you refused (120 day suspension), or if your result is below .08 or above (above: 45 day suspension or 90 days for subsequent offenses), and whether it is below .15 or above (above: 90 day suspension or 180 for subsequent offenses). The higher your breath test result, the longer period of time your suspension can be. It is important to attend the hearing and argue that you require a restricted license so that you can get to work and so that you can continue your alcohol treatment. At Court, you will have an opportunity to either defend against the charges or admit your guilt. You need a lawyer to evaluate your case and tell you whether there is a viable defense to the charges. If no defense exists in your case, often times, your lawyer will be able to work an agreement with the state for a lessor charge (DWI), to knock off any of the minor driving offenses, and/or to have no opposition to a request for a probation before judgment (PBJ). It is ultimately up to the judge whether you are eligible for a PBJ, but if given, you will be subject to probation usually with a court monitor whom you will meet with once a month to submit proof of compliance with the terms of your probation (eg- continued attendance at alcohol treatment classes, victim impact class, abstention from alcohol and/or drugs, etc.) Heavy drinkers and social or hardly ever drinkers both find themselves facing a drinking and driving offense. What ever your case may be, once charged with a drinking and driving charge, it is imperative that you immediately contact a DUI/DWI defense attorney to represent you in court and with the MVA.
  • Ramsay Law Office: A night out with friends, one too many drinks, and suddenly you are charged with DUI. Bad mistakes happen. Paying for them for years or the rest of your life doesn't have to be the only outcome.
  • Palumbo Law Group: Criminal Consequences of Your DUI/DWI There are ways that we can handle your case that might enable you to avoid getting a DUI/DWI charge on your criminal record and points adversely assessed on your driving record. Even a conviction for your first drunk driving charge can lead to serious long-term repercussions. A Probation before the Judgment (PBJ) plea is an excellent way to protect the record of certain first-time offenders. The more DUI/DWI convictions you receive, the more serious the consequences you obviously face. Our firm has experience dealing with multiple DUI charges, charges of vehicular (vehicle) manslaughter, drunk driving accidents, and other serious allegations.
  • P A Hotchkiss: Your driving record is worth defending, and it is worth your while to get all the help you can get in defending drunk driving charges, including DWI and DUI.
• Westminster
  • Silbiger & Coleman: After a witness has been sworn in and testifies on direct examination, the opposing party may cross-exam the witness. Often times the opposing party will attempt to discredit the witness by challenging their credibility. The opposing party may try to challenge the witness's credibility by employing numerous impeachment techniques.
  • Kenneth Crocken: There are serious and immediate consequences to being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI). Even before your day in court, your license may be automatically suspended. The uncertainty following a DUI/DWI charge, how will this effect your family, your finances, can lead to high levels of stress. Knowing what you are about to face and being able to prepare for the possible consequences can help to alleviate the stress and anxiety.
• Wheaten
  • Leibowitz, Band & Jezic: Too many defense lawyers begin talk of a plea bargain too soon when they hear of a confession or other incriminating evidence against the client.
  • Woll & Woll: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.