DUI - DWI Lawyer
As an Assistant State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County, Joseph H. LaMore, Jr. successfully prosecuted hundreds of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) cases on behalf of the State of Maryland. Now a private defense attorney, Mr. LaMore utilizes those years of experience to benefit his clients who are charged with the offenses DUI and DWI.
Mr. LaMore has been nationally certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in Field Sobriety Testing. This is the same training and testing utilized by police officers across the State in DUI and DWI arrests. In fact, Mr. LaMore completed his training at the Anne Arundel County Police Training academy, along-side Anne Arundel County Police Officers.
An individual charged with DUI or DWI not only faces the potential for jail time, substantial fines and strict probation, but also loss of their driver’s license, cancelled auto insurance or significantly increased insurance rates.
Many DUI cases will result in two completely separate proceedings, which occur on separate dates, before two separate entities, each of which can impose serious and separate sanctions.
1) The first proceeding is an “MVA hearing”
- This hearing is held at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and presided over by an Administrative Law Judge.
- Potential sanctions the Administrative Law Judge may impose include: suspension of your driving privileges, installation of the ignition interlock on your vehicle, referral of your case to the State medical advisory board for further sanctions, placement of an alcohol restriction on your license.
- If you fail to PROPERLY request an MVA hearing within 10 days of your arrest, it is possible that your license may be suspended without a hearing.
2) The second proceeding is a Court or Jury Trial
- Trial will be held in the county, city or federal courthouse in the jurisdiction where you are charged.
- Your case will be decided by a Judge or a Jury.
- Potential punishments include jail time, fines, and supervised probation with numerous requirements at the Judge’s discretion.
- If you are convicted in Court, the MVA may then attempt to suspend or sanction your driving privilege a second time, based upon this conviction.
If you are charged with a DUI or DWI offense, it is imperative that you promptly contact a lawyer so that you do not miss deadlines or compromise your rights. Mr. LaMore’s training, knowledge and experience in representing clients before both the MVA and the Courts, will ensure that you receive proper advice in these serious legal matters.
Mr. LaMore represents clients throughout the State of Maryland, and he handles cases in every Maryland District, Circuit and Federal Court. The majority of his clients are from the following general locations: Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Baltimore, Pasadena, Fort Meade, Towson, Upper Marlboro, Columbia, Ellicott City, Laurel, Severna Park, Crofton, Rockville, Catonsville, Essex, Hyattsville, Centreville, Kent Island, Ocean City, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, Howard County, Queen Anne’s County, Montgomery County, Carroll County, Harford County, Worcester County, Charles County and Calvert County.
