La Plata DUI/DWI Defense Attorney

At the Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A., our criminal defense practice concentrates heavily on representing people charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired (DWI) in La Plata, Waldorf, and Charles County, Maryland.

DUI and DWI are Serious Matters

Any criminal arrest is a serious matter, and DUI/DWI is no different. A drunk driving conviction can result in up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines, and this is just if it is your first offense. Even a first conviction for DWI, where your blood alcohol concentration was less than .07%, can lead to up to 2 months in jail and $500 in fines. We fight to make sure those consequences are avoided. Fortunately, you often have defenses available, and even if a conviction cannot be avoided, a skilled attorney can negotiate a much less harsh result than may otherwise be sought by the prosecutor or imposed by the judge.

DUI and DWI are Time-Sensitive Matters

If you fail a test, your license is subject to a 45-day suspension, or a 90-day suspension if this is not your first offense. You have the right to request a hearing before your license is suspended, but the time frame for making this request is very short. In order to prevent the suspension from taking place, you must request a hearing within ten days of when you were stopped. It is possible to request a hearing up to 30 days from the date of the stop, but the suspension will likely be implemented before your hearing date. If you want to have the chance of a hearing before any suspension is begun, you must request the hearing within those first ten days.

The hearing is an administrative hearing before the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). This is a formal hearing that is very much like a trial in court before a judge, although rules of evidence and procedure are somewhat difference. At this hearing, your attorney may be able to show cause why your license should not be suspended, prove that the case does not meet the proper legal requirements, or seek to have the suspension modified.

Legal Skill and Experience Matters

If you have been arrested for DUI/DWI, there are numerous ways our office can help. We can fight the charges in court and seek to have the case dismissed or avoid a conviction. We can also represent you at an MVA hearing, where we can work to keep your license from being suspended or help you get a restricted license. If you are arrested for DUI/DWI in Charles County, immediately contact the Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A. for the best possible outcome.