Chevy Chase, MD DUI Defense Attorney

Aggressive Defense Lawyer Representing Clients Accused of DUI in Chevy Chase, Maryland

A drunk driving charge may not seem disastrous at first, but if you have been arrested for DUI or DWI in Maryland, you may find that the consequences are much more serious than you expect. Effectively contesting a DUI charge requires skilled legal representation, and a Chevy Chase criminal defense lawyer can provide you with counsel and advocacy to protect your rights.

At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we know exactly how much damage a DUI conviction can cause. Our defense attorney will fight to defend you from the criminal and administrative penalties, working toward an optimal outcome to your case. No matter how insurmountable your case may seem, there is plenty a lawyer can do to help with your situation.

Drunk Driving Offenses in Maryland

The state of Maryland categorizes drunk driving offenses by severity. One of the most significant determining factors in how your case will be prosecuted is your BAC, or blood alcohol content, at the time of the incident. The legal limit for BAC is .08 percent, at which point, you can be charged with DUI per se. If your BAC is measured below the legal limit but you still show signs of drunkenness behind the wheel, you could be charged with driving while impaired (DWI) instead.

Both DUI and DWI are misdemeanors, though DWI is considered a less severe offense. However, you could be charged with felony DUI if you had an extremely high BAC at .2 percent or more. No matter what offense you have been charged with, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after your arrest.

Drug DUI

Alcohol is not the only substance that can trigger drunk driving charges. Under Maryland law, you can be charged with DWI if you are impaired by "any combination of drugs" to a point where you cannot safely operate a vehicle. This may include prescription medications that can impair your judgment or reaction time, such as sleeping pills, anxiety medication, antipsychotics, or pain medication.

Even if you are legally entitled to take these prescription medications, it will not absolve you of criminal charges for DWI. However, your attorney could assert that you were not aware that the side effects of the drug would render you unable to safely drive the vehicle.

You will face more serious charges if you are found to be impaired by a dangerous controlled substance. In addition to the penalties for drug possession, you could be sentenced to up to a year in prison for driving while impaired by a dangerous controlled substance.

DUI Defense Strategies

Defending against a DUI or DWI charge requires a thorough examination of the events leading up to your arrest. One possible defense strategy involves looking at the evidence from the chemical tests. The equipment in blood and breath tests does not always return completely accurate results. A skilled attorney can challenge the validity of these tests, citing improper calibration or preservation of samples.

Alternatively, your attorney could challenge the legality of the traffic stop. If you were pulled over without reasonable suspicion that you were in fact impaired or committing a crime, the evidence obtained in that stop could be dismissed. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we will explore all possible avenues to get the charges against you reduced or dismissed.

Meet With a Chevy Chase DUI Defense Lawyer Today

If you have been detained for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, you should seek legal representation as soon as you can. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., our Chevy Chase, Maryland DUI/DWI defense attorney can fight for your rights in a court of law. To schedule a complimentary consultation today, call our firm at 301-589-9500 or contact us online.