Maryland DUI Defense
A Maryland impaired driving arrest starts two separate proceedings, and most people only realise the second exists once it is nearly too late. One is the criminal case in the District Court of Maryland for the county where the stop occurred. The other is an administrative proceeding affecting the driving licence, handled by the Motor Vehicle Administration on its own timetable. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles both. Call (888) 437-7747.
Two Proceedings, One Arrest
The criminal charge is decided by a judge in the District Court. The licence question is decided separately in an administrative process before an administrative law judge, under different rules and to a different standard. Neither outcome determines the other. A driver can prevail in court and still lose the licence, or the reverse. Both need attention from the beginning, and the administrative deadline runs whether or not the court case has been scheduled.
What the Criminal Case Turns On
The reason for the stop, what the officer observed and recorded, how any field testing was administered and in what conditions, and the reliability of any chemical test result. Each of those is documentary or observational and each is examinable. Where a test result exists, the maintenance and calibration records for the instrument and the certification of the operator are obtainable and worth obtaining rather than assuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a separate MVA proceeding?
Because the licence question is administrative rather than criminal. It is decided in its own hearing before an administrative law judge, under its own standard, and it proceeds independently of the court case. Winning one does not decide the other.
Which court hears the criminal charge?
The District Court of Maryland for the county where the stop occurred. Venue follows the location of the stop rather than where the driver lives.
What should I do first?
Read every piece of paper you were given at the stop, because the licence-related paperwork carries its own deadline that is separate from your court date. Then get advice before that deadline rather than after it.
About Mr. Sris
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor, and that experience shapes how he reads a citation, a discovery packet and a breath test record. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background at George Mason University in accounting and information systems applies to the technical side of a chemical testing case. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys handle Maryland matters together, with the division of work set at the start of the engagement.
Speak With Mr. Sris
Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Bring the citation, your court date and the name of the District Court location, any paperwork given at the stop including anything about your licence, and your driving record if you have obtained one. Say at the outset if you are licensed outside Maryland or hold a commercial licence.
Last updated: August 25, 2026
This page provides general information about Maryland traffic and motor vehicle law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
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