Olney, MD Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys

Skilled Lawyers Defending Against DUI Charges in Olney

If you have been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you should know that you could face serious penalties if you are convicted in court, even for a first offense. With that in mind, it is critical that you talk to an attorney as soon as possible after you have been arrested. An Olney, Maryland DUI defense attorney can explore your options to fight the charges against you.

At Arrested for a DUI, LLC, we have years of experience successfully defending clients accused of drunk driving. When you work with our firm, we will fight for the best possible outcome, challenging the prosecutor's case against you and pushing for reduced or dismissed charges.

What Does it Mean to Be "Under the Influence?"

In Maryland, "under the influence" can be proven in more than one way. The most familiar is the "per se" theory. If a chemical test shows a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, the state can charge DUI based on that number alone, without needing to prove obvious impairment. Maryland also recognizes a less serious alcohol-impaired driving charge, DWI, which may be charged at a lower BAC level or based on evidence that your normal coordination was impaired to some degree.

The other path is behavior-based. Even if a test result is below 0.08, or if no chemical test result is available, the state may still argue that you were "under the influence" based on the totality of circumstances. That typically includes the reason for the stop, the officer's observations, statements attributed to you, field sobriety tests, and any video evidence. In drug and marijuana cases, it may include the officer's interpretation of physical signs and the way you performed on divided-attention tasks. These cases often come down to what the evidence actually shows, rather than what was assumed in the moment.

Penalties for a DUI in Maryland

A DUI conviction can bring serious criminal and administrative consequences, even on a first offense. For a standard alcohol DUI in Maryland, a first conviction carries up to one year of incarceration, a second conviction carries up to two years, and a third or subsequent conviction can carry up to five years under the repeat-offender provision.

Maryland law also imposes mandatory minimum jail time in certain repeat-offense scenarios. If you are convicted of DUI within five years of a prior DUI conviction, the court must impose at least five days in jail, and for a third or subsequent DUI conviction within five years, the mandatory minimum increases to 10 days.

It is also important to remember that Maryland DUI cases often have two moving tracks. One runs through the criminal court. The other runs through the Motor Vehicle Administration process, where license consequences can begin quickly after an arrest, depending on test results or a refusal. A good defense strategy accounts for both, because protecting your ability to drive can be just as urgent as fighting the charge itself.

Challenging Blood and Breath Tests in Olney DUI Cases

Chemical testing is treated as powerful evidence, but it is not always ironclad. Breath test results can be challenged based on how the test was administered, whether proper procedures were followed, whether the device was approved and properly maintained, and whether the operator was qualified. The timing of the test can matter, too. Alcohol concentration changes over time, and a reading taken later does not automatically prove what your BAC was when you were actually driving.

Blood tests can raise different issues. The chain of custody matters, and so does the method of collection, storage, and analysis. Contamination, improper handling, or documentation gaps can undermine reliability. In marijuana and drug-impaired cases, blood testing is often less straightforward than people assume. A positive result does not always answer the most important question, which is whether the driver was impaired at the time of driving. A careful review of the lab work, the officer's observations, and the surrounding facts can expose weaknesses that are easy to miss early on.

Meet With an Olney, Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer

A DUI charge is not the moment for guesswork or delay. The decisions you make early can affect your license, your record, and your leverage in court. Call 301-479-5466 or contact our Olney, Maryland drunk driving defense lawyers at Arrested for a DUI, LLC today to set up a free consultation.