I was arrested for drunk driving in Baltimore, Maryland, and wanted to hire a lawyer. I didn’t know where to start looking, so I did some research online. After coming across pages of firms advertising their services, it became clear that there were many options but no idea what made one law firm any different from another, let alone which would be most effective against the charges I faced. A friend suggested speaking with an attorney who had successfully handled cases similar to mine in the past.
After contacting my friend’s preferred attorney, he asked me about my case in detail before offering his advice on how best to proceed given my situation. He explained that while my arrest was for drunk driving, he could challenge the basis of probable cause by showing that there wasn’t any good reason for the arresting officer to decide I was drunk beyond a reasonable doubt.
In my case, this strategy took advantage of a recent Maryland Court of Appeals decision that now requires police officers to have at least some other reason for making a stop besides their observation that a driver made an unsafe lane change or ran two red lights without coming to a complete stop as required by law. This is helpful in cases where the driving itself doesn’t provide probable cause for stopping the car – which certainly will be true if you weren’t pulled over at all but were actually approached after parking your car outside your house, for instance – because it provides a second opportunity during trial to challenge whether or not there was probable cause for pulling you over.
Safeguards like these really help a lot in DUI defense, but they’re just one part of what a Baltimore DUI lawyer can do for you. Fighting drunk driving charges is a complex process, and it’s important to have an experienced professional on your side who knows the ins and outs of the system.
If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney. The sooner you start working on your defense, the better your chances of getting the best possible outcome.
The penalties for drunk driving can be severe, and if you’re convicted you could end up facing jail time, fines, and a driver’s license suspension. That’s just the short version. Facing the justice system after DUI arrest is nerve-wracking, but you can feel confident knowing that if you have an attorney on your side, their experience will work in your favor.
The stakes are high with a DUI charge because it’s not just about getting through the ordeal without being convicted or having penalties increased – it’s also about maintaining your professional license and your reputation. For most people, this is reflected by their ability to keep employment and their driver’s license; for commercial drivers, however, there’s more at stake every time they get behind the wheel – both literally and figuratively – which is why taking care of a drunk driving charge as soon as possible is always the best course of action.
What does a Baltimore DUI lawyer do?
Baltimore DUI lawyers are legal professionals who work with defendants to help them through the challenges associated with drunk driving charges. They may represent their clients in court and negotiate more lenient penalties, an outcome which is generally preferred by both parties. They also generally write briefs for all pertinent information surrounding a case, including police reports, medical records and witness statements.
What should I do if I’ve been arrested?
Because it’s important to be prepared in order to get your charges reduced or eliminated as quickly as possible, you should hire a lawyer with your first phone call after being charged with a DUI. The sooner you talk with a Baltimore DUI attorney about your situation, the faster he or she can begin working on your case.