A Maryland DUI arrest is never a pleasant experience, especially for those who have never been arrested before. The state’s legal system can be intimidating to navigate on your own, leaving you unsure of the next appropriate steps.
The truth is that many other Marylanders have made mistakes similar to yours, and your arrest is just the first step in a long legal process that requires sound legal representation. Retaining the services of a qualified DUI or DWI attorney here in Maryland can help you consider the relevant details of your case and formulate a defense strategy that can work to lessen the legal consequences you are facing.
Article Summary
- Exercise your right to remain silent during your arrest and request to speak with an attorney.
- Remain polite and comply with the requests of law enforcement, providing them with relevant documentation, including identification and insurance documents.
- Early legal intervention remains highly important; contact an attorney as soon as reasonably possible.
Immediate Steps To Take After A DUI Arrest in Maryland
Should you be arrested for a DUI or DWI here in Maryland, consider following these steps.
- Step 1: Comply with the requests of law enforcement should you be stopped for suspicion of DUI or DWI in Maryland. Remain calm and polite throughout every interaction with law enforcement. Upon being stopped, pull over to a safe part of the road, turn off the engine of your vehicle, and keep your hands visible, placed on the steering wheel of your vehicle.
- Step 2: When law enforcement requests it, provide relevant documentation to them, including identification, your vehicle’s registration, and relevant insurance documents.
- Step 3: Request to speak with your attorney before answering questions or before consenting to a breathalyzer or roadside sobriety test. This can include simple questions like “Have you been drinking tonight?” While you are not legally obligated to consent to a breathalyzer, it comes with harsh legal consequences here in Maryland, including up to a 270-day license suspension. You have the legal right to speak with an attorney before partaking in a breathalyzer test. You can still be arrested for DUI or DWI here in Maryland after refusing a breathalyzer.
- Step 4: Should you be arrested on suspicion of DUI or DWI in Maryland, request to speak with your attorney as soon as possible upon your arrival at a local police station. Should you not have the contact information for a DUI attorney, contact a close friend, neighbor, or family member to reach out to an attorney on your behalf.
- Step 5: Exercise your right to remain silent and politely request to speak with your attorney before answering any further questions regarding your arrest. Even if law enforcement wants to hear “your side of the story,” remain firm and polite and insist that you wish to speak with your attorney before answering any further questions. Your attorney can work to guide you on how to speak with law enforcement and navigate the legal process on your behalf.
What’s At Stake For DUI and DWI in Maryland
DWI and DUI charges here in Maryland come with the possibility of time in jail, extensive monetary fines, and a criminal record. Many individuals are dismissed from their place of employment upon conviction, and their name appears in criminal record searches, which can limit employment and housing opportunities well after their time in court. It can also have negative consequences on your ability to drive or obtain a driver’s license.
As such, even misdemeanor criminal charges should warrant a call to a qualified attorney who can formulate a defense that considers the appropriate factors in your case. The long-term consequences of a DWI or DUI conviction in Maryland remain extensive in comparison to the costs of retaining legal counsel. A criminal record can result in your losing professional licenses, limiting your ability to travel internationally, and creating complex immigration issues.
As such, those who can afford representation should explore their options as soon as reasonably possible.
Frequently Asked Questions: Maryland DUI Arrests
Find answers to common questions regarding DWI and DUI arrests here in Maryland.
How Can a DUI Lawyer Help After An Arrest in Maryland?
A Maryland DUI attorney can help support you immediately after an arrest, working to navigate the time-sensitive requirements of the state’s Motor Vehicle Administration related to the suspension of your license, while building a defense strategy that considers all the relevant details of your case. A defense strategy can include challenging the evidence against you, including the results from a breathalyzer test or field sobriety test. When appropriate, your attorney can also negotiate directly with prosecutors, negotiating a deal that can reduce the legal consequences you are facing. They understand the many details of Maryland state law, representing you throughout the process and ensuring every detail of your case moves forward without complication.
How likely is jail time for the first DUI in Maryland?
Most first-time DUI or DWI offenders do not experience jail time, but there are no guarantees.
Aggravating factors, including your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), your previous criminal record, whether someone was injured as a result of your negligence, and whether or not there was a child in the vehicle during your arrest, can all worsen the legal consequences you are facing.
Those convicted of DWI or DUI are required to take part in the state’s ignition interlock program. Each case is unique, and to better understand the potential consequences you are facing, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.
How do you get a DUI dismissed in Maryland?
Individuals can explore the possibilities of having a DUI dismissed by hiring a criminal defense attorney with a track record of success in DWI and DUI cases here in Maryland. Your attorney will need to consider the relevant details of your case, creating a legal defense that is entirely unique to your case. Speak with an attorney to better understand your options.
Learn More From Jezic & Moyse
We continue to publish relevant information regarding DUI and DWI here in Maryland. Click the links below to visit our online blog:
- Ignition Interlock Program in Maryland
- DUI Impact on Professional Licenses
- Refusing a Breathalyzer in Maryland
Contact Jezic & Moyse For Exceptional Legal Representation
There is no reason for you to experience a lifetime of legal consequences due to your impaired driving charges. It remains well within your legal rights to explore legal representation that can fight in your favor and navigate these charges on your behalf. We continue to support residents here in Maryland who have made these same mistakes, often securing favorable results.
Contact us today and take part in an entirely free, no obligation consultation call to help you better understand your case and what options are available to you. People just like you have made these mistakes before, and your arrest is just the beginning of the legal process.
Call us at all hours, day or night, 365 days a year, at 1-240-292-7200 or by emailing inquiries@jezicfirm.com. We remain available on short notice, often working alongside family and friends of those who have been recently arrested. Don’t delay, speak with our team now to begin the process.
Areas in Maryland Served by Jezic & Moyse
Jezic & Moyse maintains offices across the state of Maryland, capable of serving clients residing anywhere in the state. We maintain decades of experience in DUI and DWI representation here in Maryland. Our primary offices in Maryland are located in:
- Wheaton
- Towson
- Easton
- Frederick
- Waldorf
- Bel Air
Should you have been recently arrested for DUI or DWI in Maryland, reach out to us today to partake in a free consultation call.
Have more questions? Contact Jezic & Moyse now for more information.