Annapolis, MD DUI/DWI Defense Attorneys

Although recreational use of cannabis is legal for adults in Maryland, driving while under the influence of marijuana is not. As with alcohol, the use of cannabis can lead to impairments that make driving dangerous. Because of this, the same penalties may apply for those who are charged with DUI or DWI based on the use of marijuana as for people who are accused of drunk driving.

Many DUIs are charged as misdemeanors, but some can result in felony charges. For example, multiple offenses, DUI with a child under the age of 14 in the car, or causing a collision that results in injuries or fatalities can result in a felony charge.

Even if the state dismisses your case or you are not convicted, the arrest will appear on a search of your records. Most DUI convictions cannot be expunged, and they will remain on your record permanently. However, if you successfully complete probation before judgment, records of your DUI case could be expunged after 15 years.

You can refuse to take field sobriety tests, because submitting to these tests is voluntary in Maryland. The test results could be used as evidence against you. You could be arrested after you refuse, but an officer should only do so if they have other kinds of evidence indicating that you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Whether you submit to these tests or not, your attorney will defend your rights.

A DUI conviction has consequences, both short-term and long-term. The penalties are harsher on subsequent DUI convictions, so it is in your best interests to fight a DUI charge. Your lawyer can explain your options during your free consultation.

Driving while impaired covers a broad range of substances in addition to alcohol. Some over-the-counter and prescription medications can impair your driving abilities, similar to alcohol and recreational drugs. These medications typically have warning labels advising patients to refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery while taking them. If a police officer believes that your ability to drive safely was compromised due to medications you took, you could be charged with DWI.

When an officer stops you on suspicion of DUI, they will look for various signs to support their assumption that you have been drinking or using drugs. Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and the smell of alcohol or cannabis are examples of signs that officers may look for.

Before an officer can pull you over legally for DUI, he or she must have a reasonable suspicion that you are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Driving behaviors that indicate possible impairments include:

• Failing to signal before turns, running red lights, and other traffic violations
• Sudden braking or swerving, drifting across traffic lanes, inconsistent speeds for no apparent reason, and other kinds of erratic driving
• Driving the wrong way on a one-way street or in the wrong highway lanes
• Driving at night without headlights

When you choose Henley & Henley, Attorneys at Law, you will receive all that and more.