Ellicott City DUI Defense Attorneys

Lawyers Assisting People Arrested for Drunk Driving in Ellicott City, MD

Seeing the flashing lights of a police car in your rearview mirror can be stressful in any situation. However, when a traffic stop turns into a DUI investigation, the concerns can become much more serious. After an arrest for DUI, you may worry about losing your license or your job, as well as whether penalties like fines or jail time may be a possibility. You will need to make sure you take the right steps to defend against DUI charges, and you can do so with the help of a skilled lawyer.

At Posner & Cord, LLC, we defend people against DUI and DWI charges in Ellicott City and the surrounding areas. Our attorneys can review what happened during a traffic stop and identify mistakes made by police officers. We can develop a strong defense to help you avoid a conviction, and we will work to resolve your case in a way that will minimize the impact on your life.

Why Police Officers Pull Drivers Over Based on Suspicions of DUI

An officer must have a legitimate reason to stop a vehicle. This is known as "reasonable suspicion." Common reasons why officers pull drivers over include speed limit violations, failure to use a turn signal, rolling through a stop sign, or driving at night without headlights. Equipment problems, such as a cracked windshield or an expired license plate sticker, can also lead to a stop.

In some cases, officers may observe behaviors that they believe are signs of impairment, such as driving below the speed limit or swerving across multiple lanes of traffic. If an officer did not have a valid reason to stop a driver, evidence they gathered during the traffic stop or after arresting the driver may be challenged in court.

What Officers Look for During a Traffic Stop

Once a vehicle is stopped, an officer will often look for signs that the driver may be impaired. They will usually detail their observations in a police report. In many cases, officers may note:

• Physical Signs: Bloodshot or watery eyes, flushed skin, and the smell of alcohol or marijuana.
• Speech and Behavior: Slurred words, confusion, delayed responses, or unusual nervousness.
• Coordination Problems: Fumbling with a license or registration or difficulty stepping out of a vehicle.
• Statements: Admissions such as "I only had two beers."
• Items in the Car: Open beer cans or alcohol bottles, drug paraphernalia, or prescription medication containers.

In many cases, officers will ask drivers to participate in field sobriety tests. This will require a driver to exit their vehicle and take certain actions on the side of the road. An officer may ask a driver to follow a pen with their eyes, walk several steps in a straight line, or stand on one leg without losing their balance. While these tests may identify intoxication, officers may come to the wrong conclusions in situations where drivers are affected by nervousness, distractions from other vehicles, uneven pavement, or uncomfortable shoes.

Alcohol Intoxication

Alcohol use is the most common basis for DUI charges. After a person is arrested for DUI, they will usually be given a breath test at a police station. A person who refuses to take a post-arrest breath or blood test will face a license suspension. This suspension will be handled by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), and it will be separate from a DUI case.

Marijuana Intoxication

While recreational cannabis is legal for adults in Maryland, driving while impaired by marijuana can lead to DUI charges. Unlike alcohol, Maryland has not specified a legal limit for THC. Because THC can remain in a person's body for days or weeks after its effects wear off, a positive test does not necessarily prove that a driver was impaired when they were driving.

Prescription Medications

Many drugs that people take after receiving prescriptions from doctors can cause drowsiness, delayed reaction times, or other impairments. A person could be charged with DUI based on the use of sleep aids, anxiety medications, opioid pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or other medications that allegedly made it unsafe for them to drive.

Illegal Drugs

Drivers may be charged with DUI if officers believe they are impaired by substances such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Police may call in specially trained officers known as drug recognition experts to identify signs of drug impairment. Blood tests may be requested after DUI arrests, and they can measure whether a person had controlled substances in their system.

Combinations of Substances Causing Intoxication

Some substances can become more dangerous when they are mixed with alcohol, marijuana, or medications. A person who drinks alcohol while taking a cold medicine or who combines a small amount of marijuana with alcohol may experience a higher level of impairment than any substance would cause on its own. DUI charges in these cases may be based on officers' observations of a driver's behavior and symptoms that affected a person's ability to drive safely.

Contact Our Ellicott City, Maryland DUI Defense Lawyers

When you have been arrested for DUI, your driving privileges, your freedom, your criminal record, and your future may be at risk. Fortunately, with the help of a skilled lawyer, you can fight back and defend against a conviction. At Posner & Cord, LLC, we can look at the reasons for a traffic stop, the evidence collected by officers, and other factors to determine your best options for defense. Contact our Ellicott City, MD DUI attorneys by calling 410-252-0600 to schedule a consultation.