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Maryland DWI / DUI Lawyer

If you live in Maryland, were vacationing or visiting there, were attending to business in the state, or if you were merely passing through on a journey elsewhere, and you were stopped and issued a DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI (driving under the influence), you will need to find an experienced Maryland lawyer to help you navigate through the legal proceedings associated with this charge.

A DWI or DUI offense is a serious crime, and one of the most prosecuted convictions in every state. DUI laws are complicated and complex, and every state has varying laws and consequences. The laws are getting more serious, as are the penalties that follow a conviction. You need to find a Maryland lawyer who specializes in DUI and DWI cases to defend you as you plead your case before the judge and the Maryland court system.

You must file a challenge or appeal to your case immediately, as you only have 10 days to do so after your arrest. If you fail to file an appeal within that time frame, you will automatically lose your driver's license without a hearing. If you do file an appeal, you will have a separate hearing with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. This is not your criminal case, however. That hearing is separate and much more serious.

To be charged with a DUI, you have to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher. You can be charged with a DWI if your BAC is measured at 0.07. Regardless, you will need a Maryland lawyer well-versed in DWI and DUI laws to help you sort these charges out and work in your defense.

Your driver's license will be confiscated if your BAC measurement result was 0.08 or above. If that occurs, you will receive a temporary driver's license to be used until your court date. If you apply within 10 days for a hearing with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, your suspension could be lifted depending on your circumstances.

If you are arrested for a DWI or DUI in Maryland, there are mandatory education class requirements. The programs may be for either driver education or alcohol education. If you are mandated to attend one or two of these programs, you will not get your driver's license back until you have satisfactorily completed them. In addition, you must also consider the probability that your vehicle insurance premiums will increase when your license is returned to you.

When you hire an expert lawyer in the field of DUI law, he or she will examine your case page by page to make sure there were no errors or omissions by the officers during the time of arrest. Your Maryland lawyer will know what questions to ask when your case goes before the judge. A good DUI/DWI attorney or lawyer will look into these specifics right away. He or she should know the procedures for getting a hold of the equipment for testing and other such needs for the case.

If any of these steps were not performed the way they should have, or if they were not executed by the book, an experienced lawyer will know how to try your case for you and get you off your DUI charge based on these technicalities. Finding the right lawyer will help keep your driving records clean and your subsequent penalties, should there be any, within the reasonable limits as compared to the penalties you might incur should you be found guilty of this offense.

If you are facing a DWI or DUI charge in Maryland, you would be well-advised to secure an experienced and licensed lawyer or attorney to be on your side during this difficult time.