Salisbury DUI Defense Attorneys

Arrested in Ocean City, Maryland? Contact Portner & Shure, P.A.

If you have recently been arrested and charged with the crime of driving under the influence (DUI), you should obtain experienced legal counsel as soon as possible. Our experienced DUI attorneys from Portner & Shure, P.A. recognize that a DUI conviction can cost people their livelihoods. We have represented clients throughout the state of Maryland for more than 30 years. Put our experience to work for you and let us assist you in forming a defense against these serious charges.

Our results speak for themselves. We have countless five-star reviews from our prior clients. In addition, managing partner Jonathan Portner was recently included in the Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers.

For a free and confidential initial consultation with a member of our experienced criminal defense team, contact us online or by phone at (855) 954-4141 today.

DUI Consequences in Maryland

A DUI conviction can have lasting consequences. Most notable, of course, is that it can cause the convicted to spend months or years in jail or prison.

Many clients ask us, “For a first-time DUI, or second-time DUI, how long is the potential jail sentence?” The answer to this question is: The potential jail sentence for a DUI in Maryland depends on several factors, for example, prior alcohol-related driving offenses, if a collision occurred, and whether any injuries or fatalities transpired.

A DUI arrest also results in administrative penalties through the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Following a DUI arrest, the arresting officer will confiscate the driver’s license and issue a temporary paper license.

DUI Defense — The Portner & Shure Approach

The Police Departments throughout the Eastern Shore, including in Wicomico and Worcester Counties, aggressively monitor the streets for drivers that are potentially under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Accordingly, if arrested for driving under the influence, your defense should be just as aggressive. The facts surrounding your arrest, and the things you do afterward (based on our advice) determine how we will defend your case.

Questions an experienced DUI attorney will evaluate include:

• Was there a valid basis for the police to stop you?
• Were there reasonable grounds to ask you to perform the field sobriety test?
• Did the police officer have reasonable grounds to search you, or to search your car?
• Did the police officer administer the chemical breath test correctly?
• Was the machinery utilized for the blood test calibrated?
• Did the police officer administer the blood test appropriately?
• Did the lab utilize correct procedures, including a defined chain of custody?

Depending on the answers to these questions, there are a variety of potential defenses that can be used on your behalf at trial.

What Happens at an MVA Hearing for a DUI in Maryland?

Being arrested for a DUI also carries administrative penalties. You will have the opportunity to contest the DUI at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at the MVA. If you hire an attorney from Portner & Shure, P.A., we can attend your MVA hearings and advocate on your behalf, just as we have for so many others throughout the years.

An administrative hearing can have several outcomes, including:

• Suspended license
• Restricted license
• No action (i.e., not guilty)

At this hearing, the ALJ will review the circumstances surrounding your arrest. Most importantly, the ALJ must consider your blood alcohol content (BAC) level and whether you agreed to blow for the breathalyzer test.

After that, the ALJ will hear from you, and most likely your attorney, and consider your version of the events and your personal circumstances. Our experienced Salisbury attorneys will work with you to provide the best possible defenses for this hearing. This will include consideration of your work circumstances, and whether you require your license for your employment.

It is important to remember that the MVA is part of the executive branch (as opposed to the judicial branch), and thus a favorable result in your criminal case will not terminate this administrative process. Similarly, a favorable outcome in the administrative process will not terminate the criminal case.

Benefits of Hiring Portner & Shure, P.A.

For more than 30 years, our attorneys have built a reputation throughout the legal community, and the state of Maryland, based on our aggressive advocacy. We understand what is required to present our clients in the best light and to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. We work with our clients to ensure that they attend alcohol treatment before going to trial. We also gather evidence of our client’s good character, for example, via letters of recommendation. Overall, our goal is to illustrate that a DUI is not reflective of our client’s true nature.

Furthermore, regarding our DUI clients, our objectives go beyond effective representation in court and before an administrative law judge. We work alongside our clients to assist them in maintaining their license, ability to drive, employment, educational opportunities, and freedoms.

In sum, we strive to obtain a “not guilty” finding on behalf of our clients and/or to minimize the impact a DUI has on our clients’ lives. Portner & Shure, P.A.’s commitment to these goals and our success in accomplishing them is best evidenced in our countless five-star reviews from prior clients.

Let us advocate on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation regarding your DUI case, call our office at (855) 954-4141 or contact us online.