Ellicott City, Maryland DUI Defense Attorneys

Lawyers for DUI Charges in Cars, Motorcycles, Commercial Vehicles, and More in Ellicott City

Being pulled over on suspicion of drunk or impaired driving can turn a regular day or evening into a stressful legal ordeal. As a person deals with questions from police officers, field sobriety tests, being arrested, and addressing criminal charges and a driver's license suspension, they may not know what to do next. Legal representation can be crucial in these situations, and a skilled attorney can provide the guidance needed to help ensure that a case can be resolved successfully.

At Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, we work with clients in Ellicott City and the surrounding areas, helping them determine how to address DUI or DWI charges. We work to protect our clients' driving privileges, defend against convictions, and avoid issues that can have a long-term impact on their lives and their futures.

How Our Team Approaches Intoxicated Driving Cases

No two traffic stops unfold the same way, and every client who comes to us for help will have their own unique concerns. Our lawyers take time to sit down with each person, walk through the details of their case, and answer their questions in plain language. We know that many people who have been charged with DUI or DWI have never dealt with the court system before, and we know how overwhelming these matters can seem. We will work to ease our clients' concerns by explaining each stage of the process, making sure they always know what to expect at their next court date, including how they should dress to present the best possible image.

Preparation is central to how our law firm handles these cases. Before court appearances, our attorneys will review police reports, body camera or dashcam footage, the maintenance records for breath testing devices, the procedures followed when field sobriety tests were performed, and other factors that may affect a case. This groundwork may reveal procedural errors or other issues that can shape the direction of a case. We will answer clients' questions and address their concerns, helping to ease their worries as they prepare to defend themselves.

Our goal in every case is to find a path that minimizes the effects that DUI/DWI charges will have on a person's daily life. We may fight for a full dismissal of charges or determine whether it may be possible to negotiate agreements that will allow for a case to be closed with minimal penalties. Whatever approach we take, we will make sure our clients are fully informed about the best strategies, will be able to make the right decisions about their defense, and will always be fully prepared to appear in court and answer questions that may be asked by a judge.

Vehicle Types and the Charges Drivers May Face

Maryland's intoxicated driving laws apply broadly, but the consequences may be different depending on what a person was driving at the time of an alleged offense. Our lawyers can assist with cases involving:

• Passenger Cars and Trucks: Drivers in these vehicles may be charged with DUI if they allegedly had a blood alcohol concentration that was over the legal limit of .08 percent. A conviction for DUI can lead to a license suspension, fines, and possible jail time.
• Motorcycles: The same BAC thresholds and legal standards apply to motorcycle riders as drivers of passenger vehicles. However, additional factors may come into play in motorcycle DUI cases, since officers may claim that a person was unsteady when operating a motorcycle or had difficulty balancing, and they may claim that this is evidence of impairment.
• Commercial Vehicles: When a person holds a commercial driver's license (CDL), they will face stricter standards for intoxication. A person who is operating a commercial vehicle can be charged with DUI if they allegedly drove with a BAC of .04 percent or higher. Because the threshold for commercial vehicle DUI is half of the legal limit for passenger vehicles, drivers may be more likely to face charges. A DUI conviction can lead to the disqualification of a person's CDL, threatening their career as a commercial driver.

When Charges May Be Filed as DWI Rather Than DUI

Maryland law makes a distinction between charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI). While both offenses involve intoxicated driving, they may involve different levels of alleged intoxication.

In a situation where a person had a BAC that was under the legal limit, they may be charged with DWI instead of DUI. These charges may be based on a police officer's observations of a driver's behavior when behind the wheel and during a traffic stop. Even if a person is not intoxicated enough to support DUI charges, they could be charged with DWI if an officer believes that the use of alcohol or other substances affected their ability to drive safely.

Defense Strategies Our Attorneys May Use in DUI/DWI Cases

• Challenging the Reasons for a Traffic Stop: A police officer must have a lawful reason to stop and detain a driver. If they did not see a person commit a traffic violation and did not observe any behavior that indicated that the person was intoxicated, the traffic stop itself may not have been justified. In these situations, we can take steps to suppress the evidence gathered after an illegal traffic stop.
• Providing Explanations for the Results of Field Sobriety Tests: The tests that officers may conduct at the roadside are based on their subjective opinions of a driver's behavior. Officers may be looking for reasons to confirm their suspicions of intoxication, and they may ignore factors that could affect a person's performance, such as uneven pavement, footwear that affected their balance, or a lack of proper lighting.
• Examining Breath and Blood Test Reliability: When breathalyzer tests are performed after DUI arrests, testing devices must be properly maintained and calibrated. Officers are required to follow specific observation periods and other procedures when administering breath tests. Errors during testing may lead to inaccurate results. Blood tests may also be challenged if there are gaps in the chain of custody of samples or other issues with the procedures followed when storing samples or testing them in labs.
• Providing Medical Explanations: Certain types of medical conditions, prescription medications, or other factors can lead to symptoms that are similar to intoxication. Our attorneys can provide explanations to help clients show that they were not impaired when they were driving.

Contact Our Ellicott City, MD DUI Defense Attorneys

If you have been arrested for DUI or DWI, a conviction is not guaranteed. At Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our attorneys can review the facts and evidence in your case and provide guidance on what options for defense may be available. Contact our Ellicott City DUI/DWI lawyers today at 301-762-7500 to set up your free consultation.