Baltimore County DUI/DWI Case in Essex District Court

As an experienced DUI/DWI attorney in Baltimore County, I find myself in the Essex District Court on a regular basis representing DUI/DWI defendants.  I recently represented a client who was facing his second DUI, that was received less than a year before the new charges, and was on probation at the time of the new DUI offense.

DUI/DWI Lawyer Maryland
Baltimore County DUI/DWI Lawyer

The client was spotted by a Baltimore County Police officer speeding and weaving across the yellow line in the eastern part of the County.  The office made a legal traffic stop based on a reasonable articulable suspicion that the client committed a traffic violation.  Once the officer approached the vehicle, he asked the driver for his license, registration and proof of insurance.  FYI, if you are stopped in Maryland, you are only required to provide to the police officer you driver's license, registration card, and proof of insurance.  The driver could not produce his license and when asked for identification, the driver fumbled with his wallet, finally providing an ID card from work.

The officer asked the driver to step out of the car and could detect a strong odor of alcohol on the breath of the driver.  The driver could not stand up and spoke with a slurred speech.  All of these factors provided the police officer with probable cause to proceed with a DUI/DWI investigation.  Once the driver was asked if he has been drinking, the driver refused to answer or would tell the officer that he had not been drinking.

The driver refused to submit to field sobriety tests and was arrested.  Once the driver was taken to the precinct by the Baltimore County Police, he refused a breath alcohol test.  The driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving while impaired and related traffic citations.

When we appeared in the Essex District Court, we were before a visiting judge that was retired.  This is why it is so important to hire am experienced DUI/DWI attorney.  When you practice DUI/DWI law on a regular basis, you're familiar with all of the Judges that may be present in Court that day, and I had appeared before this Judge in the past on similar type cases.

Since the client had received a PBJ (probation before judgment) for a DUI arrest less than a year before he was arrested for the most recent DUI, we were concerned that the Court and State's Attorney would seek jail.  I was able to negotiate with the State's Attorney to go on the lesser charge of DWI (driving while impaired, carried a maximum penalty of 60 days) and recommend to the Court that the client would not be sent to jail.  The Court agreed and the client walked out of the Courtroom.

If you have been arrested by the Baltimore County Police for DUI or DWI, contact my office at 410.288.2900 to schedule a free DUI/DWI consultation.

Law Offices of G. Randolph Rice, Jr., LLC
Available 24/7 at 410.288.2900.  Call for Immediate DUI/DWI help.


Main Office:
6914 Holabird Avenue, Suite A
Dundalk, Maryland 21222

By Appointment Only:
101 E. Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 200
Towson, Maryland 21286

Best DUI/DWI Law Firm/Lawyer in Baltimore by CitySpur (2009, 2010, 2011)