(Vol. 8, Maryland Practice Series)
By: Leonard R. Stamm
Germantown Maryland 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.
Germantown, Maryland is located approximately 25 miles north of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Maryland State Police patrol I-270 and the Montgomery County Police patrol the entire Germantown area.
Leonard R. Stamm represents individuals charged in Germantown, Maryland with driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) by alcohol, and has been doing so 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 is a former chairperson of its 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 Germantown 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.
If you have been pulled over, stopped at a drinking and driving sobriety checkpoint, accused and/or charged with a DUI or DWI, failed a field sobriety test given by a police officer, given or refused a breathalyzer, or just have questions about fines and punishments that go along with DUI and DWI charges or other traffic or criminal related charges please contact the attorneys of Goldstein & Stamm, P.A. for a free consultation.
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 Germantown, 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 in Germantown, Maryland, call 301-345-0122 or click here to submit an online form for a free consultation.