Wheaton DUI Defense Attorneys

Arrested in Montgomery County? Contact Portner & Shure, P.A. Now.

If you have recently been charged with the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, more commonly known as “DUI,” in Montgomery County, Maryland, you should seek legal representation immediately. The Wheaton DUI defense attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. have been representing clients in Maryland for over 30 years. We have extensive experience defending clients against these serious charges, and we know how to obtain favorable results.

Contact us online or by phone at (240) 233-2801 now to speak to one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys during a confidential consultation.

Potential DUI Penalties & Legal Processes in Maryland

The penalties for a DUI can be severe and have many lasting effects. DUI is a crime that carries the potential of jail time. The length of a potential jail sentence depends on several factors, such as prior alcohol-related driving offenses, whether a collision occurred, and whether there were any injuries or fatalities. For a more comprehensive breakdown of the potential criminal penalties for an alcohol-related driving offense, please visit the DUI section of our website.

Following your arrest, you probably found yourself a bit surprised when the police officer confiscated your driver’s license and issued you a temporary paper license. This is because a DUI also results in administrative penalties through the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).

Our Approach to DUI Defense

The Montgomery County Police Department aggressively patrols for potentially alcohol-impaired drivers. Additionally, the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County treats DUIs as a serious offense. They routinely refuse to drop cases with weak evidence. Accordingly, the facts surrounding your arrest and the actions you take afterwards based on our advice determine the type of strategy our attorneys will employ in representing your case.

When evaluating a DUI, our attorneys look at several factors. Was there a valid basis for the police to stop you? Were there reasonable grounds to ask you to perform the field sobriety test? Was the chemical breath test administered correctly? As each case is different, these factors may present potential defenses that can be used at trial. Additionally, our experience with Montgomery County judges and juries allows us to provide accurate advice as to which legal or factual defenses may succeed.

Administrative Hearings for DUI in Maryland

As previously mentioned, a DUI also carries administrative penalties from the Maryland MVA. Accordingly, a DUI can also be contested at a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at the MVA.

An administrative hearing can have several outcomes, including:

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

The defenses for an administrative hearing are similar to those used in a criminal DUI case. However, because the MVA is part of the executive branch of the Maryland State Government, a favorable outcome in the criminal case will not terminate the administrative process. Accordingly, a favorable outcome in the administrative process will not terminate the criminal case.

In cases in which a plea deal is advisable (versus a trial), the Wheaton DUI attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. are very experienced at mitigating and minimizing the potential consequences of a DUI. We understand that a DUI can cost people their jobs, their educational opportunities, their driving privileges, and their freedom. Accordingly, we work with our clients to ensure they receive alcohol treatment prior to trial. Along with this, we work towards gathering evidence of our client’s character, such as employment records and letters of recommendation. Our goal in this respect is to emphasize that a DUI is not reflective of our client’s character.

Why Hire Portner & Shure, P.A.?

For over 30 years, our attorneys have been building a reputation of excellence in the legal community. For our DUI clients, our goal goes beyond effective representation in court. We work with our clients in order to help them keep their ability to drive, their job, their education, and their freedom. In short, we work towards obtaining a “not guilty” finding or towards the goal of minimizing the impact a DUI has on our clients’ lives. Our commitment towards these goals and the results we have obtained is reflected in our countless five-star reviews from our past clients. Additionally, our attorneys have received numerous awards from their peers in the legal community.

To schedule a free consultation regarding your DUI case, call our office at (240) 233-2801 or contact us online.