Turnbull, John:
DUI/DWI charges can affect your right to drive, your job, your criminal record, and may result in jail time. When you are facing DUI/DWI charges, you need an attorney involved in your case as soon as possible.
Psoras & Psoras:
DWI/DUI ö Have you been charged for drinking while intoxicated (DWI) or drinking under the influence (DUI)? Our Baltimore DWI attorneys have extensive knowledge at representing clients throughout the state of Maryland. A DWI / DUI can happen to anyone at anytime. The typical people that can receive a Maryland DWI / DUI are those individuals that are gainfully employed, hard working, family oriented and law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately this charge is considered a criminal offense and is treated like a crime. It is extremely important that you understand that this charge is to be taken serious and could result in suspension of license, hefty fines, community service, probation and/or a jail sentence. Are you willing to risk your livelihood on just any other attorney?
Timothy Gunning:
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that is in an indirect form and
requires inference based upon the facts. In many criminal cases
circumstantial evidence is the only type of evidence that the
prosecution may have in their case-in-chief against a defendant.
Evidence, which may circumstantially create an inference of identity,
may include clothing possessed by the defendant or weapons owned by the
defendant similar to those that were used in the commission of the
crime.
Patrick Maher:
Depending on the state, officers are permitted to use a variety of
tests to ascertain intoxication. The types of analyses can be grouped
into two types - tests that require the suspect to actually do
something (also referred to as evidentiary tests), and tests where the
suspect is not asked to take any action by an officer (also referred to
as preliminary tests).
What happens after a conviction?
In most cases, after either a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt after trial, the following options may be available
Motion for new trial OR Motion to withdraw guilty plea
These two motions must be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but both motions attempt to set aside the conviction.
Appeal Again, the facts of each case must be
examined to determine if one can bring an appeal and, if so, whether it
would it have merit.
Modification of sentence
It is possible in some cases to come back before the sentencing judge
and ask for modifications on some of the terms and conditions of
probation.
Expungement
In some cases, after a person has successfully completed the terms and
conditions of probation, it may be possible to appear before the court
and have the conviction expunged or removed from your record.
Bonnie
Warnken:
...being charged with a crime can be a challenging period in one's
life.Quality,
experienced, and assertive representation is needed to rise above the
difficult time.
Freeman, Wolf &
Greenbaum:
There is an inequality of power and material resources in the criminal
justice system. Prosecutors have a large staff of lawyers, police and
agents, sophisticated crime labs and experts at their disposal, and a
huge budget provided by the taxpayers. This gives them a tremendous
advantage because the legal system is based on the premise that "the
whole truth" is that presented at the trial. If a defendant cannot
challenge the government's case, or submit his or her own witnesses,
then the jury by default will probably accept as true whatever evidence
the prosecutor produces.
Timothy Gunning:
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.
Gary Bernstein:
In drunk driving cases there are immediate steps that have to be taken
to keep your driver's license from being suspended. If the police
officer has seized your license he has given you 2 copies of a paper
Temporary License. You have 10 days to mail in the Hearing Request copy
along with $15.00 to the Office of Administrative Hearings. The
address is on the rear of the Hearing Request copy along with the
personal information they request. FAILURE TO SEND THIS CAN CAUSE YOU
TO AUTOMATICALLY LOSE YOUR PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE FOR UP TO 1 YEAR. This
applies to residence and non-residents of Maryland.
Gerald Glass:
State statutes vary as to what that level is, but it ranges from .08 to
.10 for adults, which means a 8/100ths to one-tenth of one percent by
weight of alcohol to the weight of blood. This is translated into grams
of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in tests of blood or urine
sample, or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of air in a "breathalizer"
test. A combination of the use of alchol and narcotics can also be
"under the influence" based on erratic driving. Driving on private
property such as a parking lot is no defense, but sitting in a
non-moving vehicle without the ignition on probably is (sometimes
resulting in a charge of "drunk in and about a vehicle"). This is a
misdemeanor and is variously referred to as DUI, driving while
intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, or a "deuce".
Steven J. Scheinin:
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.