Temple Hills DUI Lawyer

Driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated charges in Maryland are taken very seriously. Drinking and driving can result in accidents, serious injury, and death, so they are often harshly prosecuted.

In a DUI case, there are often underlying pervasive problems such as alcoholism or addiction. Having a Temple Hills DUI lawyer from the beginning is crucial because they can guide you through the myriad of options and requirements you need to go through after a DUI charge. To learn more or begin building your defense consult with an experienced defense attorney today.

Penalties and Probation

There is no diversion in a DUI charge. A driving while intoxicated (DWI) case carries up to 60 days in jail and a driving under the influence (DUI) case carries up to a year for the first offense.

Frequently, if the DUI is someone’s first offense and there is not much else in the person’s record, then that person and their DUI attorney in Temple Hills can certainly ask for probation prior to judgment and hopefully avoid a conviction.

The fact that a DUI is someone’s first offense is not enough to receive probation from a judge. They have to generally go through an evaluation, some type of treatment or education, participate in a victim impact panel, sometimes go to shock trauma, and maybe install an ignition interlock on their vehicle.

There are a lot of repercussions, consequences, and things that a person must do in advance if they hope for probation. A Temple Hill DUI attorney is well-versed in these options and can help their clients decide what the best options are for their case and for the client as an individual.

Police Stops

Checkpoints are uncommon in Temple Hills. Generally speaking, in order to stop somebody and investigate, you need probable cause. One does not see checkpoints that often, but officers might patrol areas with bars and restaurants where people frequently go to drink. Officers will generally be in the area and patrol around the 12:30-2:30 at night timeframe.

A police officer can stop an individual for any minor (but legitimate) reason, even speeding 5 miles an hour over the speed limit or turning without a signal. They might stop an individual for that even if the real reason is to see if there are indicators of alcohol consumption.

Working With a Local Lawyer

Knowing the local roads does help a little bit as you can have a certain kind of familiarity of the area and know where these things happen.

Although technically speaking all judges and prosecutors should be equal, there is certainly an advantage to obtaining a local attorney. Local attorneys have a personal relationship with prosecutors and judges. This does not mean local attorneys reap benefits from their personal connections, but they understand the temperament, disposition, and preferences of those people.

For example, one judge might like home detention while others just do not care for it. Some judges like community service while others are not impressed by it. Because of the seriousness of DUI charges, it is important to seek every advantage one can, so a Temple Hills DUI attorney can be of huge help.