Brought to you by Colorado DUI Drunk Driving Defense

College Park DUI Lawyers

1. Salmond, William: Criminal & Traffic Defense
2. Jacoby, Steven: Drunk driving, DUI/DWI (alcohol and/or drugs) offenses are critically serious charges. They usually begin at the most inconvenient times (middle of the night), and with no prior criminal intent. But that traffic stop by the police can lead to substantial adverse consequences to you. You may be arrested and put in jail. Your car may be impounded. You may be unable to keep your job and support yourself and your family.
3. Ronald Schwartz: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. For many individuals, a DUI arrest is their first experience with the criminal justice system. It can be a stressful situation. After a DUI arrest, you must make several difficult choices. * Dealing with the Police * Breathalyzer Testing * Administrative Hearing * Trial * Defenses to DUI Charges Dealing with the Police * Do not admit to the police that you had any alcohol to drink. If asked directly, try to avoid answering the question. Alternatively, respond by saying, "With all due respect, I would rather not answer that question." * Be cooperative with the police. Do not talk back or respond in anger, even if you believe that the police are treating you unfairly or in a confrontational manner. Breathalyzer Testing Maryland If arrested in Maryland (other than on federal property or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (BW)), you will be asked if you want to take a breathalyzer test. The police are required to read you a list of your rights to either take or not take a test. Generally, if it is your first offense and it does not involve a motor vehicle accident involving serious injuries to anyone, it is best to consent to take the test. In Maryland, if you take the test, and your blood alcohol content is .08 or more, the police will take your driver's license and issue you a temporary license. You may be eligible to continue driving for employment or educational purposes, even if your license subsequently is suspended. If you refuse to take the test, the police will take your license and issue you a temporary driver's license. This temporary license is valid only for 45 days. Upon expiration of the temporary license, an automatic suspension goes into effect: * 45 days for taking the test if it is your first DUI arrest * 120 days for refusing to take the test if it is your first DUI arrest The suspension periods are longer for second and subsequent arrests. If you refuse to take the test, you are not eligible for a driver's license allowing you to drive for educational or employment purposes. Washington D.C., federal property, and the BW If arrested in Washington D.C., on federal property, or on the BW, it is mandatory that you take the test. Refusing to take the test is a separate offense. Administrative Hearing If your regular driver's license was confiscated, you have only 10 days to request a hearing to contest the automatic suspension before an administrative law judge. You must mail in the hearing request with a $125 fee. If the hearing request is postmarked within 10 days of the offense, you can continue driving until the hearing, where important defenses can be raised on your behalf. If you wait longer than 10 days, the suspension takes effect before the hearing. Trial Once the procedural issues have been addressed, you will have a trial for your DUI charges. You can be fined, jailed, or placed on probation if you are found guilty. In Maryland, most first-time DUI offenders are eligible for a program to keep the conviction off their permanent driving record. Defenses to DUI Charges Attorney Ronald Schwartz has over 25 years of experience defending DUI charges, both at the administrative hearing and at trial. DUI defenses include: * Challenging the basis for the traffic stop * Challenging the sufficiency of the evidence offered by the police and prosecution * Offering evidence to establish that you were not driving under the influence
4. 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.
5. 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.