Fight Maryland DUI Charges With A Firm You Can Trust

In Maryland, you can be charged with either driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI), depending on the amount of alcohol in your system. DWI is the lesser charge, and a conviction can result in 60 days in jail and/or $500 in fines.

DUI is an even more serious charge. For a first offense, the penalty can be up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines. Second and third offenses increase the penalties significantly.

At Atwell Law, LLC, I defend individuals in Easton and throughout the surrounding cities of Maryland who have been charged with drunk driving. With more than 25 years of legal experience, I know how to take prompt and efficient legal action to protect your rights and help mitigate the consequences.

Protecting Your Ability To Drive

If you are convicted of DWI, it will automatically add eight points to your driving record, while a DUI conviction adds 12 points. It only takes eight points within any two-year period to result in a 30-day driver’s license suspension, and 12 points can result in a license revocation.

Whether you were charged with DWI or DUI, you must take prompt action. As your Easton DUI/DWI defense lawyer, I will immediately request a hearing before the Motor Vehicle Administration. My mission is to protect your ability to drive in Maryland.

How Can I Help You

Many people who are charged with drunk driving assume that there is nothing they can do to combat the charges. This is not true. Don’t walk into the courtroom and plead guilty until you’ve talked with a criminal law attorney. I can help by:

• Investigating the situation and searching for instances where police may have violated your constitutional rights or made other mistakes
• Negotiating for the best possible outcome, even if you believe you are guilty
• Explaining the implications of taking or refusing a field sobriety test or breath test

Your case deserves a thorough defense, and I am here to fight for your rights every step of the way.

Why I Am The Attorney For You

I have been practicing law since 1999 and founded Atwell Law, LLC, in 2011. Throughout my career, I have been a passionate advocate for my clients’ rights and remain dedicated to ensuring that each person receives the best possible defense to their drunk driving charge.

My qualifications and training include:

• Successful completion of DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, the exact same course recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for training police officers throughout Maryland
• Understanding of not only what the officer did during your stop, but what they were supposed to do, allowing me to identify mistakes that police officers routinely make
• Membership in the National College for DUI Defense
• Recognition by the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys
• Named to the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Maryland
• Membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association

This training and knowledge allow me to use police errors to your advantage in court.

Maryland DWI/DUI Frequently Asked Questions

The following answers, drawn from years of handling serious cases across Maryland, are meant to give you clear and honest guidance after a DUI/DWI.

What should I do immediately after being charged with a DUI or DWI in Maryland?

The steps you take right now matter. Prioritize the following:

• Request a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Administration within 10 days of your arrest. Missing this deadline means an automatic license suspension.
• Gather any evidence from the night of your arrest, receipts, witness names or anything that might matter later.
• Write down everything you remember about the stop while the details are fresh in your mind.
• Avoid discussing details of your arrest on social media or with anyone except your attorney.

Since Maryland treats these charges seriously, the decisions you make in these first days can significantly affect your case.

Can I refuse a field sobriety test or breathalyzer in Maryland, and what are the consequences?

You can refuse, but Maryland’s implied consent law means doing so carries penalties. Refusing a breath test results in an automatic 270-day license suspension for a first offense and two years for subsequent offenses.

These penalties can be harsher than if you had taken the test and failed. The prosecution can also use your refusal against you in court, suggesting you knew you would fail. Each situation is different. What seems like the right choice in the moment can have lasting legal implications that are not immediately obvious.

How can a DUI or DWI conviction affect my insurance rates in Maryland?

A conviction often leads to dramatic increases in insurance premiums, sometimes doubling or tripling rates. Insurers may classify you as a high-risk driver, which can remain on your record for up to five years.

Beyond cost, some insurers may even choose not to renew your policy. The financial and practical effects can linger well after court proceedings end, serving as a lasting reminder of how seriously Maryland handles impaired driving cases.

I’m Here To Help

Call my Easton office at 410-443-0403 or send me an email to discuss the drunk driving charges you face. I offer compassionate and judgment-free representation.