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Leonard Stamm:

How to Handle Your DUI Arrest

Even though you've been arrested for DUI, you don't have to let it ruin your life. You may not realize it yet, but if you are thinking about simply going to court and pleading guilty to your DUI charge you may be cheating yourself.

You see, a qualified attorney can review the case for defects, suppress evidence, compel discovery of such things as calibration and maintenance records for the breath machine, have blood samples independently analyzed, obtain expert witnesses ­ all of which may help you to win your case at trial.

To find out what you need to know about your DUI arrest I've developed a website to give you a wealth of useful information . . . information which will show you how you may be able to save your license and your freedom . . . and possibly avoid fines, fees, and sharply increased car insurance costs of as much as $6,800.

For the most part, my easy-to-navigate site has information on it which you can't get anywhere else unless you are willing to do a great deal of legal research.

When you're on my site, you'll also learn how you can get a free, no-obligation consultation where I'll review your case and show you how I may be able to save your license and your freedom.

Maryland DUI Drunk Driving Defense Information

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Towson DUI Lawyers

• 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).
• 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

  • 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.