Montgomery County DUI Attorney

The entire United States has been adopting more serious punishments for DUI offences in recent years. Montgomery County is no exception and if convicted, Montgomery County offenders are looking at jail time, probation, driver's license suspensions and a wide assortment of associated fines and fees. Every case is unique, and if arrested for driving under the influence, the smartest thing an accused individual can do is consult an experienced Maryland DUI attorney.

Laws

It is against the law to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Maryland. Like most places, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 0.08%. People have, however, been convicted with a BAC of as little as 0.05%. This could happen if the police are able to prove that a suspect operated a vehicle recklessly while drinking. The police gather most of the case's evidence at the time of arrest.

The Arrest Process

When the police pull over someone that they suspect is intoxicated, sobriety tests are administered. This is usually done on the side of the road. Common tests include walking a straight line, balancing on one foot or following a pen light with one's eyes. Breathalyzer tests are also common, and are a condition of most states' driver's licenses; refusal of such a test usually results in punitive measures such as license suspensions and fines. If determined to be intoxicated, the suspect is arrested, read his rights and booked into a county jail, where he can make a phone call and arrange bail.

Court

On the first court date, the court makes sure the suspect is aware of his constitutional rights and allows him to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. At the first court appearance, the accused's plea should always be not guilty. If a defendant isn't already represented by legal counsel, the court will also determine whether the defendant has his own lawyer, plans to hire one or wishes for the court to provide one for him if he's financially unable to hire his own. It's much, much better to hire a private attorney than to be represented by a public defender. Private practices rely on obtaining business through reputation, which they only build by winning cases. 

Several different factors are taken into account when dealing with DUI cases. Things like prior alcohol offences, accidents, injuries and damages can all play a role in the outcome. Since driving under the influence is so serious, people accused in Maryland need the help of an experienced private attorney who will fight to get his clients the best possible outcome.