Olney DUI Attorneys

Lawyers for DUI and DWI Charges in Olney, MD

Olney may feel like a quiet suburban community, but police patrol its roads closely to help ensure that drivers are behaving safely. They will be watching for drivers who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, particularly at night and on weekends. When someone goes out to dinner, spends time at a bar, or visits a friend's house, they could be stopped on their drive home, given a series of roadside tests, and arrested based on suspicions of drunk driving. People who have been charged with impaired driving in Maryland may face jail time, heavy fines, a suspended license, and other penalties.

The lawyers at the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder help people in Olney respond to DUI and DWI charges with a clear plan. Our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with charges of impaired driving in the local court system. We can use our knowledge and our courtroom skills to challenge the evidence against our clients or determine what options may be available to resolve a case with minimal penalties.

We provide each client with honest advice, making sure they understand what steps they can take to resolve their cases successfully. We will maintain regular communication, keeping clients updated on the status of their cases and answering any questions they may encounter. We will also provide guidance on how to prepare for court appearances, including coaching on answering questions and making sure someone will be dressed appropriately. We will focus on resolving cases in the best way possible.

DUI Versus DWI in Maryland

Maryland law recognizes more than one type of impaired driving offense. The specific charges may depend on the substance involved and how much it allegedly affected a driver.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

A DUI charge will generally apply when a driver is accused of being so affected by alcohol that they cannot drive safely. These charges will usually be based on chemical tests showing that a person had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent. A first-time DUI conviction can result in a person being sentenced to up to one year in jail and fined up to $1,200. They will also face a license revocation lasting for six months.

Driving While Impaired by Alcohol

DWI may be a less serious charge than DUI, but it can still result in multiple types of penalties. DWI charges may apply when alcohol has impaired a person's coordination or mental functions to some degree, even if they were below the legal BAC limit of 0.08 percent. A first DWI conviction can lead to up to two months in jail, a $500 fine, and a six-month license suspension.

Driving While Impaired by Drugs or Marijuana

DUI or DWI charges may also apply if a person was allegedly impaired because of the use of any drug or a combination of drugs and alcohol. Marijuana use can lead to an arrest, or a person may be accused of using a substance like cocaine or methamphetamine. Prescription and over-the-counter medications may also lead to intoxicated driving charges if these medicines allegedly affected a person's ability to drive.

How DUI Cases Typically Begin

Officers in Olney may stop drivers on Georgia Avenue, Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Norbeck Road, or other roads or highways throughout the area. These stops may be based on violations like speeding or failing to signal, or officers may observe drivers swerving, driving below the speed limit, or showing other signs of intoxication. In other cases, officers may arrest drivers after car accidents when they believe that intoxication played a role in a crash.

In many cases, police officers will ask drivers to take field sobriety tests or blow into portable breath tests. They may also look for other signs of potential intoxication, such as open bottles or cans of alcohol in a vehicle. In cases where drivers are suspected of drug use, an officer with drug recognition training may perform an evaluation. When enough evidence has been gathered to provide probable cause to believe that a driver had been drinking or using drugs, a person may be arrested and charged with DUI or DWI.

Defense Strategies in DUI and DWI Cases

• Contesting the Reason for a Traffic Stop: If an officer did not have a lawful basis to pull a driver over, the evidence that they obtained after doing so may be excluded from the case.
• Questioning Field Sobriety Tests: Tests like the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand can be affected by issues like uneven pavement, poor lighting, or anxiety. Our attorneys can highlight these issues or show that an officer did not give the proper instructions or did not evaluate a person's performance correctly.
• Examining Breath Test Procedures: We can review the certifications of an officer who operated a breathalyzer device, the machine's maintenance records, and whether the required observation period took place before the test.
• Challenging Drug Evidence: A blood test may show that a substance was present in a driver's system, but this may not be proof that the driver was impaired at the time when they were driving. Some drugs can remain in the body for days after their effects have worn off.
• Reviewing the Drug Recognition Evaluations: These evaluations rely heavily on the judgments of officers. Our lawyers can highlight errors or skipped steps and argue that an officer came to the wrong conclusions.
• Pointing to Other Explanations: We may argue that fatigue, diabetes, allergies, or certain medical conditions led to signs that looked like impairment, but a person was not actually under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Contact Our Olney, Maryland DUI Defense Lawyers

A DUI/DWI arrest can be a stressful situation, but steps can be taken to defend against a conviction. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder can review the evidence against you, challenge the accusations made by police and prosecutors, protect your driving privileges, and work to resolve your case successfully. Contact our Olney, MD DUI/DWI defense attorneys at 301-762-7500 to discuss your case with us in a free consultation.