Maryland DUI and DWI Lawyers
Maryland has two separate charges related to “drunk driving” or driving after consuming other inebriating substances: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) or Driving While Impaired by Alcohol (DWI). To be charged with a DUI or DWI, a driver must be operating or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater.
Actual physical control over a vehicle is determined by looking at several factors; whether or not the engine is running or ignition is on, where the person is positioned in the vehicle, if the person is awake, where the ignition key is located, if the headlights are on, and if the vehicle is in a roadway or parked legally.
This is a criminal offence, and a DUI lawyer can provide legal guidance to Maryland drivers who face charges.
What's the Difference between DUI and DWI?
The key distinction between a DUI and DWI in Maryland is one of degree. A DUI is much more serious and requires that a person’s normal coordination be substantially impaired by alcohol. A DWI is less serious and requires that alcohol has impaired the person’s normal coordination to some extent. A jury is also permitted to find that a defendant is guilty of a DWI based solely on a BAC of .07, unlike a DUI.
A person is considered “per se” intoxicated if their BAC is .08 or above in Maryland.
This means that you can be charged with, and convicted of a DWI, even though your actual driving was not affected by your alcohol consumption. You do have the right to refuse to submit to a blood or breath test, and a jury may not consider this as per se proof of guilt.
Penalties for DUI in Maryland
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) is a criminal charge in Maryland that can potentially carry a wide variety of penalties. First offenders face up to one year in prison, fines of up to $1,000, suspension of your driver’s license, and 8 points on your driving record. Second time offenders face the possibility of up to two years in jail, $2,000 in fines, driver’s license suspension or even revocation, and 12 points on your license. Offenders with three or more DUIs face up to three years in jail, $3,000 in fines, and driver’s license suspension or license revocation.
In addition to the above penalties, a DUI/DWI conviction can lead to increased auto insurance premiums, decreased credit ratings, travel restrictions, and various other costs. Any driver in Maryland who has been charged with either offense should consider hiring an experienced Maryland DUI lawyer to help defend against this charge and even beat the case.
To be charged with a DUI or DWI in Maryland, a driver must be operating or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater.
Maryland DUI defense lawyer Rand Lucey, recently argued an MVA traffic issue before the State's highest court in Annapolis. He and attorneys David Moyse and Andrew Jezic have handled over 1000 MVA hearings, challenging license suspensions on every conceivable fine point of law.
Our lawyers will evaluate your traffic case and develop a specific legal strategy to beat the charges or minimize the potential consequences. Please call our Maryland DUI lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.
Andrew V. Jezic
In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Superlawyers magazine voted Mr. Jezic as one of the Top 10 Best Lawyers in all of Maryland (among 40,000 lawyers).
From 2016-2021, Superlawyers voted Mr. Jezic to the exclusive group of the very best 100 lawyers in Maryland. From 2011 to 2022, Mr. Andrew Jezic was selected for the very exclusive list of best criminal lawyers by Washingtonian magazine.
Mr. Jezic’s wins in high-profile criminal cases have been featured in many news articles and on national TV shows, including Dateline NBC, Dr. Oz, and the Tucker Carlson show. Mr. Jezic has received nearly 100 percent of very positive reviews from scores of clients.
Maryland criminal defense lawyer Andrew V. Jezic served as a Maryland prosecutor for nearly eight years, prosecuting some of the most serious felony cases in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties. Mr. Jezic is a past president of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney’s Association. In 2017 Mr. Jezic was honored as one of the "Most Influential Marylanders" by the Daily Record, Maryland's preeminent legal and business newspaper.
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DAVID H. MOYSE
Since forming Jezic & Moyse as a founding partner in 2008, Rockville Criminal defense lawyer David H. Moyse has received several notable recognitions, including being named to SuperLawyers since 2013, and the Washingtonian magazine's Top Lawyers list from 2017 to 2023. Mr. Moyse currently serves as co-chair of the Montgomery County Bar Association's Criminal Law Section. He has received nearly 100 percent of glowing reviews from clients.
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Rand W. Lucey
Rand W. Lucey, a partner, primarily handles criminal cases in the state of Maryland. He represents clients facing a variety of criminal and serious traffic charges everyday in both Circuit and District Courts in Maryland.
As a criminal defense lawyer Mr. Lucey has tried two first degree murder cases before a jury. In 2010, Mr. Lucey convinced the highest court of Maryland to hear the appeal of an MVA case in which his client was denied the right to counsel. He went on to argue that case along with Mr. Jezic before the State's highest court.
Rand Lucey has successfully defended clients accused of child abuse and child sexual abuse in administrative appeals and Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases. With their lives and careers upended by false allegations and the ensuing investigations, Mr. Lucey’s victories have allowed his clients to reunite with family, reclaim education careers, and restore their reputations.
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