Prince Frederick Maryland DUI/DWI Lawyer

Alcohol is the leading cause of fatal traffic accidents, ahead of speeding, distracted driving, and icy roads. That is why Maryland has such strict laws against drunk driving. You can get criminal charges even if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is less than 0.08, which is considered the legal limit in almost every state. Maryland recognizes driving with a BAC of at least 0.04 but less than 0.08 as a criminal offense called driving while impaired (DWI). Meanwhile, Maryland defines driving under the influence (DUI) as driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, just like 48 other states do. If you have been arrested for DWI or DUI, contact a Prince Frederick Maryland DUI lawyer.

Experienced Prince Frederick Maryland DUI Lawyer

If you get pulled over because a police officer suspects that you are driving drunk, the officer might ask you to complete a field sobriety test. If open containers of alcoholic beverages are in plain view in your car, the officer might also search the vehicle. Additionally, the officer might do a breath test or a blood test to determine your BAC. Field sobriety tests are known for not being scientific or accurate. You might perform poorly on a task such as reciting the alphabet backwards just because you are nervous, even if you have not consumed a drop of alcohol. Who would not be nervous if a police officer threatened to arrest them and told them to say the ABCs backwards or to walk on an imaginary tightrope?

You can refuse a breath test or a blood test, but that does not make your legal problems disappear. In fact, you will be even more in need of a Prince Frederick DUI attorney. It is your right to refuse a breath test, but those “do not blow” websites that make it sound like nothing can go wrong if you refuse a blood test do not tell the whole story.

Whether you plan to fight the charges or plead guilty to DUI or DWI, you have the best chance of protecting your legal rights if you work with a Prince Frederick Maryland DWI law firm. For example, Maryland requires the use of ignition interlock devices for all DUI convictions, even first offense convictions. If you successfully avoid alcohol for the entire time that the ignition interlock is on your car, your lawyer can help you avoid any administrative hold-ups that would delay the reinstatement or your usual driving privileges. Likewise, you cannot be convicted if the police violated your rights, such as by searching your car when they did not have a valid reason. Your lawyer can help ensure that you get treated fairly in your DUI or DWI case.

The Law Office of Robert R. Castro represents defendants in DUI or DWI cases in Prince Frederick and throughout southern Maryland. The Law Office of Robert R. Castro is located at 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601. You can also call us (301)870-1200 or contact us online.