DWI: The Consequences
As a top DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD has to offer might explain, driving while intoxicated of alcohol is a mistake that almost anyone can make, but one mistake shouldn’t have to define you for the rest of your life. A DWI conviction can potentially cause lasting results, which is one reason why individuals might be seeking counsel from a trusted Baltimore, MD DWI lawyer.
If you or someone you care about has been picked up for a DWI/DUI in Maryland, it’s likely in your best interest to contact a competent and experienced DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD respects. Not only could you face jail time, expensive fines and have your license suspended but you could receive a criminal record. Not only does this cause others to view you in a negative manner and tarnish your reputation but it can also impact your ability to obtain your dream position or take away your civil rights. The good news is that we can help. At the Greenberg Law Office, we have a qualified team of criminal defense attorneys that can help you get back on track. We want to protect your life and your rights. Our competent team of defense has over 30 years of combined legal training and experience and we will work tirelessly to defend you. Despite some people’s belief that they may not need an attorney, that is a risky decision. A DUI/DWI is very serious and can ultimately destroy your life. If you are convicted of a felony, it can get even worse.
It can also be extremely important to contact a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD trusts immediately, as there are deadlines that you must comply with soon after the arrest. If you don’t protect your rights and request an MVA hearing in a timely manner, your license will almost always automatically be suspended. MVA Hearings can be won if the facts support it.
New Laws Against Drunk Driving
In December 2015, Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta was struck and killed by a drunk driver while performing a field stop. As a result, The Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 (Noah’s Law) was named for him and will take effect October 1, 2016. The law will protect Marylanders and make our roadways safer by significantly expanding Maryland’s Ignition Interlock Program in order to help keep drunk drivers off our roads.
Noah’s Law mandates an ignition interlock device for convicted drivers. You are required to participate in the program for the following convictions
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Driving While Impaired (DWI) while transporting a minor under the age of 16
- Homicide or life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while DUI or DWI
The length of time you are required to participate in the program:
- For the first incident is 6 months.
- For the second incident, it is 1 year.
- And for the third or a subsequent incident, it is 3 years.
If you receive a DWI after refusing to take a chemical test (the court shall require mandatory interlock) and you will likely be required to participate in the program for 1 year.
The length of time you are required to participate in the program infographic
How Can a DWI Lawyer Be Helpful?
If you’ve been charged with DWI, you might be wondering if it’s time to call a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD can provide. Yes, call the Greenberg Law Office now as time is working against you! Although the outcome of every case can be very different, because each case depends on so many unique factors, receiving counsel from a trusted DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD respects may be invaluable.
Factors that could potentially help successfully resolve your case include errors made during the stop, arrest and booking process, inaccurate documentation, or incorrect test results. Even when your attorney cannot have your charges dismissed entirely, it may be possible to have the charges reduced. As experienced DWI lawyers Baltimore, MD might explain, reduced charges in a DWI case can have a profound impact on the individual and their family. The good news is that the Greenberg Law Office wants to help. Our experienced legal defense team knows the MD criminal justice system and can use our knowledge and experience to represent you in court. We’re knowledgeable, aggressive and experienced. Plus, we want to help you fight a conviction. Contact a competent DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD deserves, today.
FAQ About DUI Charges
In the unfortunate event that you have been charged with DUI, your choice in a Baltimore, Maryland DWI lawyer can make or break the outcome of your case. If you are unsure of how the process works or how this will affect your future, contact Greenberg Law Offices today and get concrete, clear answers. Our team of attorneys have extensive experience in the area of criminal defense, especially those specific to DUI charges. We understand that this type of charge can show up on your record and affect your future in numerous ways. The following explores the impact of a DUI charge and how a DWI Lawyer Baltimore, MD may be able to help you.
Why were you pulled over?
There are many cases where the police officer did not have reasonable cause to pull the individual over. In those cases, an experienced DWI Lawyer Baltimore, MD trusts like those at Greenberg Law Offices will know the proper channels to pursue in order to potentially get the case thrown out.
Is this your first offense?
Different states have their own laws regarding first, second, or third offense and how each is treated. However, this is certainly an area where you are better off with an experienced DWI Lawyer in Baltimore, MD who will know how to plead your case in order to pursue the most reasonable outcome.
Will you lose your license?
Most states require the individual’s license to be revoked immediately despite the specifics surrounding the arrest. Greenberg Law Offices understands how important your transportation is to your job, school and important appointments. One of the first things our attorneys will do for you is fight for your license to be reinstated.
Will this be on your record permanently?
A DUI conviction can stay on your record for many years. In addition, a DUI conviction may affect your current job and/or future employment opportunities.
How will a DUI affect my insurance policy?
Each policy is different and you should contact your insurance company directly for a specific answer. In general, however, most insurance rates increase as a result of DUI charges. If damages occur as a result of the DUI, the insurance company may not cover the repairs.
What is the penalty for a first-time DUI?
The penalty, especially for a first-time offender can vary depending on blood alcohol content, if you are under twenty-one and the reason you got pulled over (i.e., speeding or reckless driving may result in a steeper penalty). Typically, a first time offense is considered a misdemeanor and will likely result in any or all of the following: fines, license suspension, substance abuse counseling, probation and community service.
Most statistics indicate that over one million people are arrested annually in the United States as a result of drunk driving. If you fall within that statistic, you deserve competent and experienced representation like a Baltimore, MD DWI Lawyer at Greenberg Law Offices. In contacting us as soon as possible, we can begin the process to help you to deal with the situation and move forward with your life.
If you are in need of a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD has several to choose from, but one of the easiest choices you could make is to choose Greenberg Law Offices. Our passionate team of attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience in four areas of law:
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Defense
- Workers’ Compensation
- Medical Malpractice
Within our criminal defense practice area, our legal team has extensive experience handling DWI cases. If you have recently been charged with a DWI, call Greenberg Law Offices to speak with a DWI lawyer in Baltimore, MD who can review your case at no charge.
What Is the Difference Between a DUI and a DWI?
You may have a hard time understanding the difference from a DUI vs a DWI if this is your first charge.
DUI is considered driving under the influence when your blood alcohol level is .08% or higher.
DWI is driving while impaired, and the blood alcohol is between .04% and .08%.
Am I Going to Jail for My DWI?
You may increase the likelihood of a positive outcome if you hire a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD offers. A DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD citizens trust, such as the attorneys as Greenberg Law Offices, can help you through this process and protect your rights.
If you are convicted on a DWI charge, a Baltimore DWI lawyer may advise you of the following:
- Your driver’s license could be revoked for six months.
- You may be sentenced for up to two months of jail time.
- You might have to complete an alcohol treatment program in order to have your license restored.
- You may also have to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car. An ignition interlock device is similar to a breathalyzer, and you have to blow into the mouthpiece in order to start your vehicle. If your blood alcohol is above the legal limit, then your car will not start.
A DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD provides, such as our team of attorneys at Greenberg Law Offices, can help you from the day you are pulled over to the day your license is reinstated. The fines can be expensive for a DWI.
- If this is your first offense, the fines can range from $500 to $2,000.
- If this is your second offense, your license may be revoked for one year, and may face up to one year of prison time.
- If it is your third offense, the penalties are considerably greater. Also, if you were transporting a minor at the time of any conviction, or were the cause of an accident where someone died, you could be facing enormous fines and countless years in jail.
Can a DWI affect getting a job?
There are many areas of your life that can be negatively impacted by receiving a DWI, including more difficulty getting a job down the road, as a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD residents trust can explain. Because it will show on your background check, you will not be able to hide this information from potential employers. It may be in your best interest to make a future employer aware of it upfront so that you will have the opportunity to explain it and not look like you are trying to be dishonest by hiding your past issues.
Is it possible to get a DWI removed from my record?
Once you’ve been charged and convicted with a DWI it is difficult to get it expunged from your permanent record but depending on your situation you may have options that you can discuss with your DWI lawyer. If you were a minor at the time of the DWI that could be one of the situations that might give you leverage for getting it removed from your record. But in any case, you will likely need to show a record of exemplary behavior ever since the DWI conviction.
How can a DWI lawyer help me?
In any legal situation, it is always recommended that you have a lawyer representing you because of they have the legal knowledge and experience that you need to get a more profitable result that will set up your future for success as much as possible. Your lawyer will work with you to make legal decisions that you are comfortable with and do what they can to represent your interests. They are no guarantees when going through the legal system but having a lawyer will likely be very beneficial for having positive outcome in your case considering your situation.
What are some of the penalties for a DWI?
Like with most criminal charges and convictions, there are multiple types of penalties that you could be sentenced with. Some of the penalties could include jail time, a fine, community service, or other types of penalties. Judges will have some guidelines to work off of from what is written in the law, but within those guidelines there is a lot of variety of penalties that could be applied to you in your case. Your lawyer will work to show how you’ve been compliant and why you deserve to have a lesser penalty.
Can I be sued for a personal injury that resulted from a DWI?
If your DWI incident also involved an accident with another car or person that caused an injury you may be open to a lawsuit being filed against you. In this case, you will need a reliable lawyer from Greenberg Law Offices representing you to attempt to show that you are not liable for their damages. This could be quite a challenge to prove, but an experienced lawyer can help you avoid having to pay extra damages to injured victims involved in an accident.
Choose Greenberg Law Offices
If you have been charged with a DWI, you want to reach out to a trusted attorney who can help you throughout the legal process. Your Greenberg Law attorney may be able to reduce the severity of the charge of have it dismissed altogether. Call the Greenberg Law Offices, a DWI lawyer Baltimore, MD provides to find out more about how we can help protect your rights.
Client Review
“The Greenberg Law Office has been a tremendous support during a very turbulent time in my life. Every step of the way I could count on them to make arrangements and smooth the way after my work injury. Their attention to detail and conscientiousness have been a blessing and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for all that they did, which insured a positive resolution.”
Kimberly Jarrell
