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Towson DUI Lawyers

1. Frank & Wyman: What is a DUI? DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence, and is also referred to as DWI (Driving While Intoxicated). It refers to a range of charges against a driver operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The technical definition varies by state, but in most cases it is based on a person's blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). This is determined either through a breath, blood, or urine test. Most states have set the legal BAC limit at .08 for drivers over age twenty-one, based on a national standard of 0.08 that links highway funds with compliance. What happens when I am arrested for DUI? For a first-time DUI charge, punishment options vary greatly depending on the state and county laws where you were arrested. Just some of the penalties you could face include: jail time, heavy fines, court costs and suspension or revocation of your driverÕs license. Your punishment is given at your sentencing hearing. How much can I have to drink and still drive legally? In many states, the legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) is .08. Remember that one drink may affect you at a certain body weight and height differently than it affects someone else. Use of prescription and even nonprescription drugs while driving is the same as drinking and driving if you were informed that you would be impaired to operate a vehicle or machinery. You may be pulled over for a number of reasons such as weaving, driving slowly or speeding, or even because you are not wearing seat belts or have a tail light out on your car. The officer may ask you to perform field sobriety tests or take a breath, blood, or urine test to determine intoxication, and the officer has a legal right to ask you to cooperate. You may be arrested if you refuse to do so, and, even if the courts determine that you were not intoxicated beyond the legal limit, your driverÕs license may be suspended for four months to one year for refusal to take a breath or blood test. Cooperation with the police is one of the criteria you agree to for the privilege of holding a driverÕs license. When can I call my attorney? You cannot contact an attorney until you go to the police station. What are field sobriety tests? If a driver is pulled over and the law enforcement officer suspects intoxication, the driver may be asked to cooperate with standardized field sobriety tests. These are simple physical or cognitive tests to determine the driverÕs level of intoxication. The tests are: * the one-leg stand * walk-and-turn, and * horizontal gaze nystagmus test. Officers may also administer non-standardized tests, which might include: * stand with feet together and tip the head backwards * count the number of fingers that the officer raises * recite the alphabet or a portion of it * count backwards * Rhomberg stationary balance test: the driver stands, feet together, and leans the head back to look up at the sky while holding their arms out to the side * finger-to-nose: this requires the driver might to close his or her eyes and bring the finger around to touch the nose * hand-pat test: the driver is asked to extend a hand in front, palm upwards. The other hand is then placed on top of the first hand, palm downwards. The driver then ÔpatsÕ the lower hand with the upper hand by rotating it, so that first the lower hand is patted with the palm of the upper hand and then with the back of the upper hand. What are chemical tests? These tests determine a driverÕs blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) through testing of the breath, blood, or urine. While these tests are technically voluntary, refusal carries a possible penalty such as suspension of driving privileges. What are Ôvehicle sanctionsÕ and Ômandatory sanctionsÕ? Vehicle sanctions include a range of punishments such as impoundment, registration revocation, or having an ignition interlock device attached. Mandatory sanctions required minimum punishments set by state laws, that may include jail time, fines, license suspension, or another minimum mandatory penalty linked to the specific DUI offense. What are Ôzero tolerance lawsÕ? Drivers under age twenty-one are not allowed to have any alcohol in their systems. They could face having their license removed for six months or more. A minor driver found with a BAC over the legal adult limit of .08 can be sentenced as adults.
2. Wyman, Steven: Why is it important to hire a defense lawyer as soon as possible after a DUI & DWI arrest? An experienced DUI & DWI defense lawyer can: * Help you keep your driver's license by requesting an administrative hearing within the 10-day time frame * Investigate the circumstances of your arrest, looking for irregularities that can be used to negotiate a dismissal or obtain a plea to a lesser offense * Take your case to trial, to fight for a not-guilty verdict The most important thing to know about DUI & DWI arrests is that you have only 10 days from the date of the drunk driving arrest to request an administrative hearing with the Maryland Motor Vehicles Association to appeal the suspension of your driver's license. If your DUI & DWI defense lawyer requests the driver's hearing within the 10-day deadline, then you will be allowed to keep your driver's license until the date of the hearing.
3. Brocato, Robert: Criminal and Traffic Violations
4. Mandel, Mark: Areas of Practice Include: * Commercial Collections * Traffic Law * DUI Defense * Construction Law * Mechanic's Liens * Construction Claim Preparation and Analyses * Family Law * Divorce Law * Child Custody * Visitation Rights * Property Division * Adoptions * Guardianship * Paternity Suits * Protection Orders * Juvenile Law * Alimony * Bankruptcy * Personal Injury * WorkerÕs Compensation * Transactional Work * Criminal Law * Suspended Driving Defense * Uninsured Motorist Defense * Business Law * CINA Cases * Mediation * Contract Law * Restraining Orders
5. Kleeman, Stephen: Family Law & Divorce Bankruptcy Personal Injury Workers' Compensation Estate Planning & Administration Business & Commercial Law Criminal Law Real Estate Law Social Security Disability
6. Hensley & Gordon: DUI charges are extremely serious and must be treated as such by an experienced lawyer.
7. Sachse, Douglas: If you are arrested for drunk driving, a conviction is not unavoidable. Prosecutors may seek an immediate plea bargain from you. Do not make any deal before talking to an experienced DUI defense attorney... If you are arrested for drunk driving, a conviction is not unavoidable. Prosecutors may seek an immediate plea bargain from you. Do not make any deal before talking to an experienced DUI defense attorney at the Law Offices of Douglas T. Sachse in Towson, Maryland. Consequences of a DUI Arrest and Conviction A DUI arrest and conviction both bring serious consequences. Immediately following your arrestÑand prior to any court dateÑyou must ensure that you still have the legal ability to drive. Your license can be revoked, albeit temporarily, even before you are convicted. We will help you file the necessary paperwork with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Association (MVA) and try to keep you on the road while your case is pending. Establishing Your DUI Defense Case Investigating and establishing your DUI defense requires great attention to all the details.
8. Warnken, Byron: DWI, DUI, traffic violations, robbery, and drug charges, including drug possession and drug distribution of marijuana and cocaine.
9. Levin & Gann: # Drunk driving # Driving under the influence of alcohol # DUI # DWI # Blood alcohol level # Alcohol influence report # Field sobriety tests # Horizontal gaze nystagmus # Walk & turn test # Negligent or reckless driving # Open containers # Underage drinking # Reckless endangerment # Drug charges or offenses # Narcotics # Marijuana # Cocaine # Paraphernalia # Possession of drugs # Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) # Disorderly Conduct # Revoked or suspended license # Driving while revoked or suspended
10. Conrad, John: If you've been charged with a crime, we understand you are facing a tough situation.
11. 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?
12. 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.
13. 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).
14. Thomas Morrow:

    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

    1. 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.
       
    2. 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.
       
    3. 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.
       
    4. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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. 
19. 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".
20. Steven J. Scheinin: 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.