Experience You Can Trust. Results You Deserve.

Home

Criminal Defense

DUI/DWI

Experienced DUI And DWI Defense Lawyers In Severn

Being arrested can be incredibly traumatic and scary, no matter what offense it’s for. Officers of the law won’t always give you all the details, and you can be left feeling confused and scared. Having the legal services of our experienced driving under the influence (DUI) attorneys at Trevillian Law can give you an understanding of your case and a feeling of comfort knowing that someone is on your side.

Our lawyers will work diligently and use their experience and knowledge of the law to benefit you. Since we’ve been serving communities such as Glen Burnie, Pasadena, Catonsville, Millersville, Bowie, Crofton, Severna Park, Arnold, Dundalk, Ellicott City and Odenton areas for more than 30 years, our attorneys have handled many DUI cases and are familiar with how the courts handle drunk driving charges. Law enforcement personnel and prosecutors do not take these matters lightly, but our team of DUI lawyers may be able to help you achieve a better outcome. They will help fight your DWI charges on your behalf.

Avoid Or Mitigate DUI/DWI Penalties If You Can

Several of the penalties involved in DUI and driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases include:

The loss of your driver’s license
Substantial fines
Rehab or counseling
Jail or prison time
Community service
A criminal record

With skilled defense attorneys on your side, you will have the advocacy you need to pursue your goals of keeping your driving privileges, avoiding jail time and, most importantly, preventing the addition of a criminal record in your name.

Frequently Asked Questions About DUI/DWI

Your concerns about your drunk driving arrest are likely urgent, and our attorneys strongly encourage you to contact us right away. Below are examples of common questions our team receives. When you reach out to us, our lawyers will personalize answers to them as they relate to your case.

What is the punishment for driving under the influence (DUI)?

In the state of Maryland, the penalty for a DUI can include a maximum of one year and a fine of $1,000 if it is your first offense. For a second offense, the maximum penalty is two years and a $2,000 fine, while a third offense has a maximum penalty of three years and a $3,000 fine.

What do I do after a police officer has taken my driver’s license?

You must take action within 10 days after getting your temporary paper license, or your privilege to drive could be lost. That temporary license, issued to you by the officer, is your license for the next 45 days.

After 45 days, your driver’s license will be suspended unless you request a hearing or qualify for driving with a mandatory interlock device. If you do not request a hearing within 10 days of being issued your temporary license, then you will not get an extension of the paper license to carry you through to the hearing date.

Should I request a hearing before the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)?

Whether you should request a hearing with the MVA depends on the circumstances of your case and your driving record. To be properly advised, you should consult with one of our attorneys immediately after receiving your paper license.

You may have a strong defense to your looming suspension, or it may not be in your best interests to request a hearing because it could subject you to further scrutiny. Our team’s goal is to minimize your penalties, and everyone’s case is different. Call for a free consultation now to help our lawyers help you pursue a favorable outcome.

Can I get a work-restricted driver’s license during my suspension period?

Yes. Restricted licenses are granted; however, proper documentation has to be provided or such requests are denied. Need to drive a work vehicle? Not a problem; our DUI attorneys can tell you whether you qualify for a restricted driver’s license and, if you do not, what you have to do to meet the qualifications.

Might I lose my commercial driver’s license (CDL)?

CDL drivers face stiff penalties for drunk driving convictions. Mandatory one-year suspensions are a possibility as is the permanent loss of their CDLs. Our attorneys know how to navigate the courts and MVA hearings to try to help them minimize the effects on their commercial driving privileges. CDL drivers have to be extremely careful in how they handle drunk driving offenses.

No matter what type of driver’s license you have at risk, negotiate the minefield and get back on the road. Call us today.

Understanding Penalties For A DUI/DWI Conviction In Maryland

You may be facing a combination of two or more of the following penalties and repercussions if you are charged with or convicted of drunk driving:

Loss or suspension of your license
Large fines
Substance abuse treatment
Jail or prison time
Community service
8 to 12 points on your driving record
Restitution
A criminal record
Restrictive probationary license programs (including ignition interlock devices)
Social stigma and negative effects on your career
Probation supervision fees

If you have been stopped for, arrested for or charged with drunk driving, then it is in your best interests to discuss your options and rights as soon as possible with an experienced criminal defense attorney. Drunk driving laws are complex, and the guidance of a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer can make a significant difference in your experience and in the outcome of your case.

Terminology And Elements Of The Crime Of Drunk Driving

The criminal offense of drunk driving goes by a variety of names among the states, including:

Driving under the influence (DUI)
Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
Operating under the influence (OUI)
Operating while intoxicated (OWI)
Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII)
Driving while under the influence (DWUI)

In the language of the various state statutes, a drunk driving conviction requires driving or operating a vehicle or motor vehicle. While that sounds straightforward, a review of drunk driving cases shows otherwise. Doubts are common. An experienced DUI/DWI defense lawyer can make the difference between a conviction and a better outcome.

What It Means To Be Operating A Vehicle

The notion of driving or operating a car or any vehicle implies that the driver must have some sort of control or command of the vehicle. Guilt or innocence may hang on whether the defendant was actually “driving” in a particular circumstance. Questions such as the following can make a huge difference in a DUI/DWI case:

- What if someone was just sitting behind the wheel of a car but it was off?
- What if the defendant was sleeping there?
- What if the keys were in the defendant’s pocket and not in the ignition?

What if that car was out of gas and could not be started?
What if the car was idling?
What if it was being towed?

Courts nationwide have considered various scenarios to determine whether the necessary control over the vehicle was present, and the outcomes vary by state and individual circumstances.

Definition Of A Vehicle In DUI/DWI Laws

Cars, trucks and vans are obviously considered to be vehicles for drunk driving law purposes. However, people have also been convicted of drunk driving while operating motorboats, mopeds, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, electric wheelchairs, golf carts, bicycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Definition Of Intoxication

One way that prosecutors prove driver intoxication is through scientific testing of the amount of alcohol in the body, usually by analyzing the breath or blood. These tests are usually administered by machines, such as the Breathalyzer. In every state, a person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over .08% is considered legally intoxicated.

Implied consent laws create the legal presumption that, if a person takes advantage of the privilege of driving, then they are automatically consenting to state-administered chemical testing to determine their BAC level. If a driver refuses to take a chemical blood-alcohol test, then their driver’s license may be revoked or suspended.

BAC test results over the legal limit are usually presumed to be proof of intoxication. However, defendants may challenge the conclusiveness of the results by showing irregularities in the test administration procedure or problems with the test equipment.

Evidence Of Intoxication

Other types of evidence used by prosecuting attorneys to show intoxication include drivers’ statements, witness and police observations of behavior and driving patterns, and circumstantial evidence. An example of possibly relevant circumstantial evidence is that a defendant, before driving, spent the afternoon at a party where drinking games were played.

Police also gather important evidence of intoxication by administering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) at the scenes of traffic stops. Common SFSTs include:

Finger-to-nose test
One-legged stand
Walk-and-turn test
Horizontal gaze nystagmus test
Picking up coins
Counting backwards
Reciting the alphabet

Let our lawyers analyze your case to determine the most promising defense methods. They may discover that your SFSTs or BAC tests were administered in a faulty manner.

Our Maryland DUI Defense Team Will Defend Your Driving Privileges And Your Future

Get a skilled, determined DUI/DWI defense lawyer on your side by calling Trevillian Law in Severn at 410-609-9987 or sending an email inquiry. We hope to hear from you as soon as possible if you are facing drunk driving charges.