Chevy Chase DUI/DWI Defense Lawyer

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DUI AND/OR DWI CHARGE IN MARYLAND, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTACT A LAWYER RIGHT AWAY SO YOU DO NOT MISS FILING DEADLINES TO PROTECT YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGES. CALL 301-345-0122 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION OR CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE FORM.

The Village of Chevy Chase, Maryland is located just north of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County, Maryland. Drivers coming north from Washington, D.C. on Connecticut Avenue, and traveling on East-West Highway between Silver Spring and Bethesda pass through Chevy Chase. Chevy Chase is home to the Chevy Chase Club and Columbia Country Club, as well as clothing retailers just north of the Mazza Gallery on Wisconsin Avenue, such as Saks Fifth Avenue. Chevy Chase has its own police force. Maryland State Police, Montgomery County Police, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Police, and Metro Transit Police also patrol in Chevy Chase.

Leonard R. Stamm has lived in Silver Spring since 1985, and has represented individuals charged in nearby Chevy Chase, Maryland with driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) by alcohol for over 30 years.

It is important to select a lawyer with experience and expertise to have the best chance of obtaining the best possible result. Leonard R. Stamm is the author of the definitive treatise on Drunk Driving Law in Maryland, Maryland DUI Law, published by West-Thomson-Reuters. He has been helping to train other lawyers how to defend DUI cases since 1986, and currently provides training on a regular basis to public defenders in Maryland. He is a former president of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association and is currently the Dean of the National College for DUI Defense. (Click here to read and watch a video of his Dean's Address). He also was chairperson of the National College's amicus committee and has helped to submit amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court in Bullcoming v. New Mexico and Missouri v. McNeely. He has received the highest possible rating from Martindale Hubbell, AV-Preeminent, is recognized as a Super Lawyer, and a Best Lawyer, and has received a rating of "10 Superb" from Avvo.

Drunk driving defense is one of the most complex areas of law, requiring extensive experience and expertise. The lawyer must carefully review all aspects of the State's case, from the basis for the stop, the officer's decision to require the driver to exit the car to perform standardized field sobriety tests, the administration and interpretation of standardized field sobriety tests, the advice of penalties for failing or refusing a chemical breath or blood test, and the administration of the test itself.

Many drivers have medical conditions that may mimic some of the signs and symptoms of impaired driving. It is possible to produce medical records showing that even before the arrest that the defendant suffered from a condition that the officer may have mistaken as indicating impairment.

Before the initial consultation with a lawyer, clients may be sent extensive questionnaires to enable to lawyer to properly assess the case. At the consultation, the lawyer will review the events in detail, to determine the likely defenses at the MVA and in court. It is important to act quickly after an arrest, because if the driver wishes to contest a proposed suspension by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration for failing or refusing a breath test, a hearing request must be mailed with the required $150 fee, within 30 days from the arrest.

It is unusual to see a case where there is not some defense available to beat or reduce the charges. In most cases, prosecutors offer plea deals that are no better than what would happen after losing a trial. So there is usually little downside to fighting the case in court.

Unfortunately, most lawyers in Chevy Chase assume the case is too difficult to win in court or at the MVA and fail to challenge the State's case. Some lawyers never challenge the State's case. This can be a huge mistake since most DUI cases have issues that can be raised in defense, and with zero or very minimal penalty. In other words, the result of fighting and losing is rarely worse than just pleading guilty or not requesting a hearing at the MVA. So why would you want to choose a lawyer who will not fight your case? When interviewing a lawyer, you should ask if your lawyer intends to fight the case, and if not, why not.

We represent clients that have been pulled over for DUI or DWI or some form of drunk driving or driving while impaired charges by Maryland State Police, Montgomery County Police, Park Police, or Metro Transit Police in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Be represented by the criminal lawyer who wrote the book on Maryland DUI Law, literally. If you need to be defended or represented for a drunk driving arrest or arrest for other criminal or vehicular offense in Chevy Chase, Maryland, call 301-345-0122 for a free consultation.