Traffic Law

Notable Recent Outcomes of Traffic Law Cases

State v. A. B.

DWI BY DRUGS/ CDS POSSESSION NOT MARIJUANA

Client charged with (8) charges, including, but not limited to, CDS Possession Not Marijuana, Controlled Dangerous Substance Equipment, Driving While Impaired by Drugs and or Alcohol, Driving While Impaired by Drugs, which had client facing over 16 months, and or over $2,000.00 fine or both and over 20 points. It was alleged that client was stopped at a traffic light, it turned green, they did not go, so officer goes to assist driver, who is asleep at the wheel, their foot was on the brake, but car was still in drive and the engine was still running, the officer knocked on window several times to wake them up, and when they come to, they were lethargic and disoriented, pupils constricted and slurred speech, SFST, HGN 6/6, WAT 6/8, and OLS 3/4. The client followed our advice, entered into treatment for various things, and after discussions with the State, convinced State to only do on CDS Possession Not Marijuana and Negligent Driving. All the other charges were dismissed, and Client received a fully suspended sentence and only 3 points with the MVA. (Carroll County)

State v. Z.U.

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE

Client charged with DOS, which had client facing 1 year and or a $1,000 fine or both and 12 points, Possessing Suspended License – 12 points and or a $500 fine or both, and Failure to Attach Registration Plates, where Client was stopped for failing to attach license plate to the front of their vehicle, and then was told that their license was suspended for failing to appear at a prior court hearing. Instead of receiving any jail time and getting up to 12 points and having their license possibly revoked, convinced the State to amend the charge prior to trial so that Client received no jail time, and only 3 points, with a $100 fine despite his driving record. (Carroll County)

State v. L.H.

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE

Client charged with DOS and Displaying a Suspended License which had client facing 1 year in jail and or $1,000 fine or both and 12 points, Possessing Suspended License - $250 fine and 12 points, and Speeding, where Client was clocked going 56 in a 40 mph, stopped and cited with multiple violations. The most serious citations were dismissed prior to trial, and Client only had to pay a $90 fine, despite driving record, and only received 2 points. (Carroll County)

State v. M.B.

DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE/ DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

Client charged with DUI, DUI Per Se, DWI, Negligent Driving, Reckless Driving, Consume Alcohol while Driving on Highway, which had client facing over 14 months and or $1500.00 fines or both and 20 points. It was alleged that client was stopped for swerving on the road, officer detected strong odor of alcohol, admitted to drinking, did SFST’s, HGN – 6/6, WAT – 5/8, OLS – 3/4, Client consented to the Intoximeter and blew a .21. Client listened to our advice, enrolled in a treatment program prior to trial, and after discussions with the State, all the charges were dismissed except for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Per Se, and despite all the aggravating factors such as high BAC, after mitigation was presented, Client still received a Probation Before Judgment, which means they received no points. (Carroll County)

State v. J. F.

DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE/ DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

Client charged with DUI, DUI Per Se, and DWI, which had client facing over 14 months and or $1500.00 fines or both and 20 points. It was alleged that client hit a sign, hit four vehicles, and hit a fire hydrant causing Public Works to come to scene, admitted to drinking several beers, SFST, HGN 6/6, WAT 7/8 and OLS 2/4, and blew a .17 at the barracks. After following our advice, getting into treatment for several issues, convinced the Judge to give client the benefit of Probation Before Judgment despite all of the aggravating factors. ( Baltimore City)

State v J.L.

DRIVING ON SUSPENSION, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE

Client charged with DOS, DWOL. Client facing a possibility of 1 year and a $1,000.00 fine or both and 12 points. Client’s license was suspended for violating an MVA requirement that the car be equipped with Intox machine, had horrible driving record including multiple DOS. Client pled NGASF to DOS, State was seeking 60 days incarceration, after mitigation, Client received ten days, to serve on the weekends.

State v D.C.

DUI, DWI

Client charged with DUI, DWI. Client facing a possibility of 1 year and or a $1,000.00 fine or both and 12 points. Client was passed out behind the wheel, in the middle of the road, with beer in their lap, admitted to drinking several beers, and refused the Intoximeter test. Client pled NGASF to Driving While Impaired by Alcohol, lesser included offense, all other charges were dismissed, and despite having a prior DUI, and after mitigation was presented, Client was given a fully suspended sentence.

State v G.R.

DUI, DWI, FLEEING/ELUDING

Client charged with DUI, DWI, Fleeing and Eluding. Client facing a possibility of 2 years, $2,000.00 fine or both and up to 24 points. Client was stopped for speeding, delayed pulling over until they returned to theirs house and pulled into driveway, officer followed them the whole way, called for back-up, and upon approaching the vehicle, Client was smoking a cigar and had the music blasting.  Officers pulled client out of the car, client refused SFST and Intoximeter test, became combative with officers in the driveway, ultimately taken into custody without further incident. Client pled NGASF to DWI, lesser included offense, despite prior DUI, after mitigation, Client received a Probation Before Judgment.

State v D.K.

SPEEDING 99/50

Client charged with Speeding (99-50), which had him facing 5 points and possible license suspension. Client allegedly Crossed over Double Yellow Lines, Negligent Driving, and Failure to Control Speed, where Client allegedly was on a motorcycle doing 99 in a posted 50, passed 2 cops who got his license plate number, and went to his house to issue the appropriate citations. After trial Client Acquitted of Negligent Driving, Guilty of other two charges, we appeal, and we convinced the State to reduce the speeding to 79 in a 50 and dismissed the other charges. Client received two points so no license suspension.

State v S.C.

SPEEDING 63/30

Client charged with going 63 in a 30 (5 points), cop driving in opposite direction, so he paced them. Client pled Not Guilty and was found Not Guilty.

State v D.D.

SPEEDING 67/55 AND 2 OTHER TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS

Client charged with going 67 in a 55 (1 point), failure to reduce speed in dangerous weather conditions (1 point), and passing in a no passing zone (1 point), where Client started to pass 4 cars in a passing zone, but it became a no passing zone, 1 of the cars was a cop, who proceeded to stop the vehicle.  Client was a CDL driver and any points would have catastrophic consequences on their ability to maintain employment and provide for their family, after Client listened to everything we told them, and presented a strong mitigation argument, Client was granted Probation Before Judgment for all 3 citations, which led to 0 points.

State v J.F.

DUI, DWI

Client charged with DUI, DWI, Client facing a possibility of 1 year and or a $1,000.00 fine or both and 12 points. Client flicked a cigarette out the window, was stopped, admitted to drinking 2 mixed drinks, refused the Intox test. Client pled NGASF to DWI, lesser included offense, all other charges were dismissed, and after mitigation was presented, Client received a Probation Before Judgment.

State v J.M

DUI, DWI, SPEEDING 53/40

Client charged with Speeding, DUI, DUI Per Se, DWI, client facing  over 1 year and or a $1000.00 fine or both and 12 points. It was alleged that client was speeding, 53 in a 40 confirmed by officer’s radar, they admit to drinking, SFTS, HGN 3/6 (blind in the left eye), WAT 3/8, OLS 4/4, and blew a .08 at the station.  Client has several prior convictions for many different things, subsequent offender notice with enhanced penalties, and after Client listening to our advice of getting into treatment, instead of jail, which they thought was definitely going to happen, convinced State to only go on the DWI, lesser included offense, but still facing up to three (3) years because of subsequent offender, and after mitigation, Client receives a fully suspended sentence, despite all the aggravating factors.

State v C.L.

DUI, DWI, DWI (WHILE TRANSPORTING A MINOR) UNLAWFUL TAKING OF MOTOR VEHICLE, INTOXICATED ENDANGERMENT, DRIVING ON REVOKED/SUSPENDED LICENSE

Client charged with (7) charges, including but not limited to, unlawful taking of motor vehicle, (criminal), the rest (traffic) intoxicated endangerment, DUI, DWI, DWI While Transporting a Minor, which had client facing over 7 years and or $2000.00 fine or both and 20 points. Client allegedly took his wife’s car, which did not know about, put his special needs daughter in the car, drove to get food, was observed by an off-duty police officer driving erratically, at one point in the opposite lane, was stopped in parking lot, admitted to drinking, refused SFST, refused Intoximeter, and his license was revoked/suspended. Client has prior DUI conviction, subsequent offender notice filed by State, Client listens to our advice of getting into treatment, convinced State to only go on a DWI, lesser included offense of all the charges, the other charges are dismissed, and after Mitigation, Client receives a fully suspended sentence, even with all the aggravating factors.

State v D.H.

SPEEDING 64/45

Client charged with going 64 in a 45 (2 points), where cop used radar to get them speeding. After mitigation, Client granted Probation Before Judgment,  0 points.

State v G.D.

SPEEDING 78/55

Client charged with going 78 in a 55 (2 points), where cop used radar to get them speeding. After mitigation, Client was granted a Probation Before Judgment, 0 Points.

State v E.P.

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE

Client charged with Driving on a Suspended License, Possessing a Suspended License, and Failure to Display Illuminated Lights while Driving, which had client facing 1 year and or $1000.00 fine or both and 12 points. Client’s headlights were not working, so Client used their high-beams, passed by a police officer, who turned around and pulled Client over, at which time officer told Client their license was suspended.  Defense settled the case without going to trial, all the charges were dismissed, and later we expunged them from the Client's record.

State v K.H.

DRIVING ON SUSPENSION, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, POSSESSING SUSPENDED

Client charged with texting while driving, DOS, DWOL, Possessing Suspended, which had client facing 16 months and 1500.00 fine or both and 15 points. Officer saw Client texting while driving, stopped Client, Client did not have license on her, and her license was suspended. After discussions with the State, they dismissed all the charges except for driving on a suspended (h), which carries no jail and up to a $500, after mitigation, Judge granted Client Probation Before Judgment. In addition to getting this great outcome, Client was running late to Court, we held the State from calling the case, so that Client did not have a warrant issued for their arrest for failing to appear.