Beltsville, Maryland DUI Defense Lawyers

Aggressive DUI Defense Attorneys for Clients in Beltsville

A charge of driving under the influence (DUI) in Maryland can have major consequences for the rest of your life if you are convicted. In these cases, jail time is a real possibility, in addition to other serious penalties like the suspension of your license. To protect your freedoms, reach out to a Beltsville, Maryland DUI defense attorney who can advocate for you in court.

At Arrested for a DUI, LLC, we can provide you with an aggressive defense against misdemeanor and felony drunk driving charges. Our attorneys have decades of legal experience, so you can trust us to come up with a well-reasoned strategy based on your unique circumstances.

Drunk Driving Charges in Maryland

In Maryland, police may charge you with driving under the influence, often called DUI, when you operate a vehicle with alcohol or drugs in your system. The law makes it illegal to drive if your blood alcohol concentration is too high or if you are visibly impaired by substances.

The penalties for a first DUI can include:

• Up to a year in jail, up to $1,200 in fines, and a license suspension of up to six months
• Mandatory alcohol education programs and possible ignition interlock device requirements
• Community service or probation

Both DUI and DWI are misdemeanor crimes in Maryland, but DWI carries lighter penalties. You may face DWI charges if the police suspect that you are impaired by alcohol, but your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does not meet the threshold for a DUI.

Repeat offenses carry harsher consequences. You may face longer jail time, higher fines, extended license suspension, and a permanent criminal record. If you injure someone or damage property, you could face additional felony charges and civil lawsuits. Some drivers, like people under 21 or commercial drivers, are subject to lower BAC limits.

Why BAC Matters in DUI Cases

Your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, measures the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. In Maryland, a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal for most drivers. Commercial vehicle operators must stay under 0.04 percent, and drivers under 21 must stay under 0.02 percent.

BAC tests give the state strong evidence of impairment. If your BAC is at or above the legal limit, prosecutors can prove the per se element of DUI without showing that you drove poorly. A higher BAC can also lead to a longer license suspension. Challenging the accuracy of a BAC test—by questioning how it was administered or maintained—can be a key part of your defense.

Reasonable Suspicion in DUI/DWI Stops

Before an officer can pull you over for DUI or DWI, they need reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. This means they must observe behavior that suggests impairment, such as weaving between lanes, driving too slowly, or failing to obey traffic signals. At a checkpoint, officers may stop vehicles without individualized suspicion, but they must follow strict legal guidelines.

Once you are stopped, the officer looks for signs of impairment, such as red eyes, slurred speech, or the smell of alcohol. These observations can give the officer probable cause to conduct an arrest. If you believe the stop or subsequent arrest lacked reasonable suspicion or probable cause, you may have grounds to challenge the charges in court. Our firm can review the circumstances of your case, closely scrutinizing police procedure.

Contact a Beltsville, MD DUI Defense Attorney

If you have been accused of drunk driving, securing legal representation is critical for protecting your rights. At Arrested for a DUI, LLC, we can discuss your defense strategy, looking for ways to minimize the charges against you. To schedule a free consultation, contact our Beltsville DUI defense lawyers or call our offices at 301-479-5466.