Charles County DUI Lawyer | DUI & DWI Defense in Waldorf, MD A traffic stop on Route 301 can change everything in minutes. One field test, one breath reading, and suddenly you’re facing jail time, a lost license, and a criminal record that follows you for years. You don’t have to face it alone. Castro Law Group has defended drivers charged with DUI and DWI across Charles County since 1993. Our Waldorf office is on Central Avenue. We handle cases in District and Circuit Courts throughout Southern Maryland. Call (301) 870-1200 for a free consultation. We handle DUI/DWI defense matters in DUI/DWI defense attorney in Charles County, MD, St. Mary’s County, MD DUI defense lawyer, and defending DUI charges throughout Calvert County, MD. Why Castro Law Group for Your DUI Defense More than 30 years of trial experience in Maryland courts Local Waldorf office at 11701 Central Avenue, Suite 200 4.9-star Google rating from past clients Free initial consultation, evenings and weekends by appointment We defend cases in Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s counties Robert Castro founded the firm in 1993. He is a Charles County resident and has spent his career building a defense practice rooted in trial work in Maryland courts. We know the prosecutors, the judges, and the courthouse procedures across Southern Maryland. That local knowledge matters when your case goes in front of a Charles County judge. DUI vs. DWI in Maryland: What’s the Difference? People often use the terms as if they mean the same thing, but Maryland law separates them. Both fall under Maryland Transportation Code § 21-902, and both carry serious consequences. DUI (Driving Under the Influence) is the more serious charge. You can be charged if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. An officer can also charge you with DUI if they believe alcohol substantially impaired your driving. DWI (Driving While Impaired) is a lesser offense. It applies when your BAC falls below 0.08% but officers see signs of impairment. A BAC of 0.07% can still lead to a DWI charge. You can also be charged with drugged driving under § 21-902(c) if police believe drugs (including legal prescriptions) impaired your driving. The charge applies even when alcohol isn’t involved. Maryland DUI and DWI Penalties The numbers below reflect maximum penalties under Maryland Transportation Code § 21-902. Actual sentences depend on the facts of the case, prior offenses, and the judge. DUI, First Offense Up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $1,200. License suspension and possible ignition interlock requirement. DUI, Second Offense Up to 2 years in jail and a fine up to $2,400. Mandatory minimum 5 days in jail if the second offense happens within 5 years of the first. DUI, Third Offense (within 5 years) Up to 3 years in jail and a fine up to $3,000. Mandatory minimum 10 days in jail. DWI, First Offense Up to 2 months in jail and a fine up to $500. DWI, Second Offense Up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $500. Drugged Driving (§ 21-902(c)), First Offense Up to 2 months in jail and a fine up to $500. Refusing a Breath Test An automatic license suspension imposed by the MVA. A conviction can also add up to 2 months in jail and a $500 fine. Beyond the criminal penalties, a conviction can affect your job, your insurance rates, professional licenses, and security clearances. CDL holders face especially harsh consequences. How DUI Stops and Arrests Actually Happen Most DUI cases in Charles County start with a routine stop. Speeding on Crain Highway, a broken taillight on Route 5, or weaving near a Waldorf intersection are common triggers. From there, officers look for the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, or bloodshot eyes. If they suspect impairment, they’ll ask you to step out and perform field sobriety tests. Three standardized field tests are used in Maryland: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), the eye-tracking test Walk-and-Turn One-Leg Stand These tests are subjective. Officers grade them on a checklist. Medical conditions, injuries, footwear, weather, and uneven pavement can all skew the results. A skilled Charles County DUI lawyer knows where these tests fail and how to challenge them in court. Breath tests at the station can also be flawed. The Intox EC/IR II machine used in Maryland must be calibrated and maintained on a strict schedule. If the records show gaps in maintenance, or if the operator was not certified, the result may be thrown out. Building Your Defense Every DUI case has weak points. Our job is to find them. Common defense angles include: The initial stop: was there a lawful reason to pull you over? Field sobriety testing: were the tests administered correctly? Breath or blood test reliability: was the machine working and the operator certified? Rising BAC defense: was your BAC actually below 0.08% when you were driving, not when you tested? Medical conditions like GERD, diabetes, or auto-brewery syndrome that can produce false readings Miranda and constitutional violations during the stop or arrest For first-time offenders, Maryland courts may grant Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) under Section 6-220 of the Criminal Procedure Article. A PBJ isn’t a conviction. If you complete probation, you avoid a permanent DUI on your record. We work hard to put first-time clients in position for this outcome whenever the facts allow it. License Suspension and the MVA Hearing Your criminal case in court is only half the battle. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration runs a separate process that can suspend your license well before your court date. You have 10 days from the date of arrest to request an administrative hearing with the MVA. Miss that window and the suspension takes effect automatically. Request the hearing in time and we can fight to keep you driving while your criminal case plays out. This is why timing matters. Call (301) 870-1200 within days of an arrest, not weeks. What to Do After a DUI Arrest in Charles County Stay quiet about the details of the stop. Do not post about your case on social media. Write down everything you remember about the stop while it’s fresh. Request your MVA hearing within 10 days. Do not plead guilty before speaking with a Charles County DUI lawyer. Call Castro Law Group at (301) 870-1200 to schedule a free consultation. Related Criminal Defense Matters A DUI charge often comes with other criminal allegations. Our criminal defense practice covers the full range of charges Marylanders face, and we frequently represent clients facing more than one issue at once. If you’ve been charged with another offense alongside or instead of a DUI, we also handle: Drug crimes, including possession, distribution, and paraphernalia charges Traffic offenses such as reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and hit-and-run Assault charges, including first and second-degree assault Burglary and breaking-and-entering allegations Theft cases ranging from misdemeanor to felony Weapons charges, including unlawful possession and carry violations Violent crimes, where the stakes and the defenses are different Expungements for past charges and convictions that may qualify under Maryland law We can review your full situation in one consultation. Call (301) 870-1200 to get started. Frequently Asked Questions Can a first-time DUI in Maryland be expunged? Generally, no. Maryland law does not allow expungement of a DUI conviction. However, if your case is dismissed or you receive Probation Before Judgment (PBJ), expungement may be possible after a waiting period. We’ll review your specific situation during your consultation. Do I have to take a breathalyzer test in Maryland? Maryland’s implied consent law means refusing the official breath test at the station triggers an automatic MVA license suspension. You can still refuse, but the administrative penalty applies whether or not you’re convicted of the DUI itself. Is the firm available for weekend consultations? Yes. We offer appointment flexibility for evenings and weekends. Call (301) 870-1200 to schedule. How quickly should I hire a DUI lawyer after my arrest? As soon as possible. You have only 10 days from arrest to request an MVA hearing. Waiting can mean losing your license before your court date. Can a prescription medication lead to a DWI charge? Yes. Maryland § 21-902(c) covers impairment by any drug, including legally prescribed medication. If officers believe the drug affected your ability to drive safely, you can be charged regardless of whether you had a valid prescription. Do you handle DUI cases outside Charles County? Yes. Castro Law Group defends DUI and DWI cases in Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s counties, as well as the District of Columbia. Get a Free Consultation with a Charles County DUI Lawyer Charged with a DUI or DWI in Charles County? The sooner you call, the more options you have. Castro Law Group offers a free initial consultation. Call (301) 870-1200 or contact us online to get started.
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