Archives for March 2021

DUI or DWI? Is There a Difference in Maryland?

Does Maryland Make a Legal Distinction between Driving While Impaired (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)?

DUI or DWI? Is There a Difference in Maryland?When you’re pulled over by police in Maryland, there’s a good chance they’ll ask you if you’ve had anything to drink. They also may ask you to submit to a field sobriety test or take a breathalyzer test to estimate your blood alcohol content (BAC). You can refuse the field sobriety test with no legal penalty, but if you refuse the breathalyzer, there are potential consequences, including loss of driving privileges.

Based on the findings of the breathalyzer test and observations of the police officer, three things might happen:

  • You blow under the legal limit of .08% BAC, and the officer concludes you are not impaired and lets you go;
  • You blow over the legal limit of .08% BAC, causing you to be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI); or
  • You blow under .08% but over .07% and are charged with driving while impaired.

If you are underaged, the legal limit goes down to .02%. Commercial truck drivers also have a lower permissible blood alcohol content—.04%.

Experienced Maryland DUI/DWI Defense Attorney

Jonathan Scott Smith, a longtime Maryland SuperLawyer, has aggressively protected the constitutional rights of criminal defendants in the greater Baltimore area and across Maryland for more than 30 years. Consistently AV-rated by other attorneys under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System, Jonathan has also been named a Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer magazine. He’s earned AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with the highest rating possible (5 stars), as well as a 10.0 (Superb) rating from AVVO as a trial attorney.

Jonathan understands the consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction, and works hard to ensure that police followed all required procedures. He will verify that there was probable cause for the traffic stop and that you were properly notified of your Miranda rights if taken into custody. He will carefully gather all relevant evidence and visit the scene of the incident, if necessary. He’ll also use his extensive trial experience to protect your rights in court.

Proven DWI/DUI Attorney in Baltimore County and the Surrounding Communities

To schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your options after a DWI/DUI arrest, contact attorney Jonathan Scott Smith online or call 410-740-0101 to set up an appointment. Attorney Smith handles DWI and DUI cases throughout Baltimore and the surrounding area, including Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County.

Controlled Dangerous Substances in Maryland

Maryland Drug Laws | Categories and Penalties

Controlled Dangerous Substances in Maryland In Maryland, as in every state, there are statutes (written laws) that identify what types of substances can be legally possessed, manufactured, distributed, or sold. Maryland takes a more detailed approach to illegal drugs, though, defining them as controlled dangerous substances (CDS) and putting them in five different categories, based on their likelihood to cause addiction/abuse, as well as their acknowledged medical value.

Schedule I Drugs

Drugs deemed to be highly addictive or subject to abuse, and without recognized medical value, are listed in Schedule I. Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and peyote. Conviction of a Schedule I drug offense is punishable by up to 40 years in prison, as well as $100,000 in fines. Marijuana, while technically considered a Schedule I drug, is treated differently, with less serious penalties.

Schedules II-V

The remaining schedules cover all other drugs, from cocaine, opium, meth, and opioids to steroids, sedatives, and even over-the-counter cough suppressants.

Experienced Baltimore County Drug Crimes Attorney

Jonathan Scott Smith, long a Maryland SuperLawyer, has fought to protect the constitutional rights of criminal defendants in the greater Baltimore area and across Maryland for more than three decades. AV-rated by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System, attorney Smith has also been named a Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer magazine. He’s received AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with the highest rating possible (5 stars), as well as a 10.0 (Superb) rating from AVVO as a trial attorney.

Jonathan knows the impact a drug crimes conviction can have on your life, affecting your reputation and job. He’ll confirm that police followed all required procedures and that all evidence against you was obtained legally. He will verify that there was probable cause for any search, seizure, or arrest, and that you were properly notified of your Miranda rights if taken into custody. He’ll also use his extensive trial experience to protect your rights in court.

Effective Drug Crimes Defense Attorney in Maryland

To schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your options when you are under suspicion or arrested for a drug crime, contact attorney Jonathan Scott Smith online or call 410-740-0101 to set up an appointment. Attorney Smith handles DWI and DUI cases throughout Baltimore and the surrounding area, including Howard County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County.

ADDRESS :

  • Jonathan Scott Smith 10490 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 200 ,Columbia, MD 21044-4960

  • Call for consultation 410-740-0101