Ellicott City, MD Multiple DUI Attorneys

Experienced Attorneys for Repeat DUI Charges in Ellicott City, Maryland

Any DUI charge can have serious consequences in Maryland. The potential penalties escalate dramatically if you are charged with DUI a second or subsequent time. Between the likely jail time and the loss of driving privileges, getting convicted of a repeat DUI can disrupt your life in a major way.

Courts are sometimes willing to show leniency to a first-time DUI offender who is regretful, but they are rarely willing to give repeat offenders the same benefit of the doubt. Because drunk driving puts the public in danger, courts are often inclined to treat people who are caught driving drunk more than once harshly. Options you might have had the first time around, like probation before judgment, are not likely to be available after your second arrest. Instead, you may see the state pursue a conviction more aggressively.

When defending against multiple DUI charges, it is important to have skilled legal counsel you can count on. Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky, LLC has more than 50 years of combined legal experience helping people who have been accused of drunk driving and other traffic offenses. We will approach your case strategically, identifying the best DUI defense strategy for you. Our hands-on attorneys are ready to help you in real time. You can rely on us to keep doing what is best for you throughout your case.

Multiple DUI Penalties

A second DUI conviction can carry up to two years in prison, and a third DUI conviction can carry up to three years. Mandatory minimum sentencing is also a factor in these cases. If you are convicted of DUI for the second time within five years, you will face a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail. While this is a relatively short amount of time to be incarcerated, any time in jail can be traumatic for many people.

You will also risk losing your driver's license for an extended period of time after more than one DUI conviction. Your license will automatically be suspended for a year after a second DUI conviction, and it may be suspended for up to three years after a third DUI conviction. When you are able to start driving again, you will likely have restricted driving privileges, and you will probably need to install an ignition interlock device on your car. Although the fines associated with repeat DUI charges can be steep, they can pale in comparison to the costs of alternate transportation for several years.

Mandatory substance abuse treatment is very likely to be ordered as well. People participating in court-ordered substance abuse treatment must submit to regular drug and alcohol testing to ensure compliance.

Defending Against Repeat DUI Charges

Fortunately, the same legal defenses that were available for a first DUI charge are available during a subsequent DUI case. Just because you have a prior DUI conviction does not mean that you are guilty this time or that the police did not make a mistake that would destroy the prosecution's case. A few possible defenses may include:

• Challenging the Constitutionality of the Traffic Stop: The police must have had reasonable suspicion that you were breaking the law in order to pull you over. Knowing that you have driven drunk in the past does not allow the police to pull you over again unless they had a specific reason to believe you were driving drunk again or had committed another traffic violation.
• Casting Doubt on Chemical Test Results: The police must follow procedures precisely to get reliable results when performing breath, urine, or blood tests. If the police made a mistake that could have affected your results, our attorneys may be able to have the evidence excluded from court.
• Explaining Field Sobriety Test Results: There are many reasons why a sober person might not perform well during field sobriety tests. Anything from a medical condition to the type of shoes you were wearing at the time could account for a "failed" test.

Contact Our Ellicott City, Maryland Multiple DUI Attorneys

Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky, LLC provides high-quality defense services to people accused of DUI for a second or subsequent time. Our experienced Ellicott City, MD multiple DUI defense lawyers will do all we can to defend you against a conviction. Contact us at 443-539-8712 for a complimentary consultation.