DUI/DWI Attorney in DC, MD & VA

If you have been charged with Driving Under the Influence(DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), or any other drunken driving-related charge in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia, choosing your DUI lawyer is extremely important.

The decision you make in the next few minutes or hours might affect your life for many years. Our lawyers recognize that a drunk driving conviction can adversely impact your chances of seeking gainful employment, getting a government-related security clearance, securing financing for a home, residing in certain apartments or condominiums and pursuing future educational opportunities. This is why aggressive legal representation is so important. After being charged with DUI in Washington DC, you have only fifteen calendar days to schedule a license suspension hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). While you do not necessarily have to hire an attorney to fight your automatic suspension, only an experienced Washington DC DUI Lawyer knows how to schedule the right kind of hearing with the appropriate hearing officer and the strategies that will help you keep your drivers’ license. Throughout the duration of the Washington DC DUI arrest, DUI case and DMV license suspension process, we keep you fully updated about the status of your matter. We are available to answer questions anytime; we promise to get back to you as quickly as possible if we are out of the office.

EFFECTIVE DUI DEFENSE SINCE 1993

Since 1993, the Washington DC DUI Lawyers at Frederick J. Brynn, P.C., have been providing vigorous DUI and reckless driving defense representation with a focus on responsive communication and attention to helping our clients get the best possible outcome for their charges. Our objective is to have charges dismissed or reduced to penalties that will not include jail time. With more than forty years combined trial experience, we know how seriously the prosecutors take DUI charges in Washington DC, underage drinking, and other related drinking and driving arrests. That is why we take an aggressive, serious approach to DWI defense. By investigating and challenging everything about the traffic stop, the sobriety and blood alcohol tests, and the police procedures, we are often able to present a strong defense based on violations of your rights. We also go beyond the facts. We weave your personal story into the defense. We make sure that the courts know that you are a person with a future that is worth protecting. Our knowledgeable attorneys will construct a strong defense using all available strategies including:

• Investigating police reports for errors
• Examining the validity of the initial traffic stop
• Determining if there were any civil rights infringed upon in violation of constitutional protections
• Studying the procedural grounds for mistakes
• Probing the suitability of sobriety and Breathalyzer tests
• Inspecting the scientific grounds for inaccuracies

No matter what the circumstances of the drunken driving arrest were, there is almost always an effective defense against the charges.

First Offense DUI/DWI Lawyer in DC, MD, VA

Being charged with a DUI for the first time can be both frightening and overwhelming. You might have questions about how this will affect your license, your criminal record, your job, your ability to take care of day-to-day concerns and your car insurance rates. These are all reasonable concerns; a qualified attorney can explain the consequences of a first-offense DUI or DWI on your life. The most important action you can take when you are being charged with a DUI for the first time is to be proactive. You should contact an attorney immediately and avoid making incriminating statements. Our firm has the best chance at getting the charges dropped when someone contacts us right after being charged. We are adept at negotiating with the police and the district attorney. We can also start building an effective defense right away. It is also important to know that you are under no obligation to cooperate with the police by offering anything beyond what they ask of you. Remember, your statements can be held against you in a court of law. You are also under no legal obligation to perform a sobriety test and Breathalyzer that have been shown to be inaccurate. While there may be some legal consequences for refusing, these may very well be less dramatic than a DUI conviction. If you are charged with first-time drunk driving, we will challenge the police’s conduct and advocate forgiveness since it is your first offense. We might also urge you to proactively enroll in alcohol abuse program to show you are taking responsibility for your actions. We will negotiate with your insurance company to prevent rates from rising. We do everything within our power to minimize the impact the charge and conviction will have on your life, including representing you at trial if your case does proceed all the way through the court system. A DUI charge is a serious offense and your approach to fighting it should be equally critical. Let us help you fight your drunk driving charge with an effective criminal defense. Contact our experienced DUI Attorneys today and let us help you protect your reputation, your record and our livelihood.

Multiple Offense DUI/DWI Lawyer in DC, MD, VA

At Frederick J. Brynn, P.C., we understand that people with a second or third drunk driving charge face serious criminal penalties. They need aggressive representation from an experienced defense attorney for multiple drunk driving offenses. Since our firm’s founding in 1993, our lawyers have handled hundreds of driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases for first time and repeat offenders in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. We have experience using effective strategies that can reduce mandatory jail time and help our clients from suffering a suspended license. The criminal defense attorneys at our firm are well aware of the consequences resulting from multiple drunk driving offenses. We understand our clients are concerned about losing their license and the mandatory jail penalty. Our defense strategy is to take a proactive approach from the very beginning. From the moment you hire us, we will begin investigating the circumstances of your case. We will challenge everything from the initial traffic stop to blood alcohol tests.

Reducing Jail Time for Multiple Drunk Driving Offenses

Multiple felony DUI/DWI offenders face mandatory jail time. However, there are some steps you can take that may reduce the time you spend in jail. These steps include attending drinking and driving programs. We suggest enrolling in these programs immediately to show the judge that you are taking an active approach in your treatment. If you are a multiple DUI/DWI offender, contact our office in Washington, DC, as soon as possible after your arrest. We have the experience and knowledge to effectively represent you and protect your interests in court. We have a high rate of success in criminal defense cases that involve multiple drunk driving offenses.

Refusing a Breathalyzer

Getting stopped by the police can be an overwhelming and frightening situation. Usually, people feel an urge to comply with law enforcement. However, in the case of being pulled over for drunk driving, this is not always in the driver’s best interest. It is important you know your rights when confronted with this situation.

Implied Consent Rule in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

When you are issued a driver’s license in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, you automatically accept to consent to a blood alcohol test if you are stopped by a police officer who suspects you of driving drunk. This is because Washington DC operates under a concept known as the ‘implied consent’ rule. If you refuse a Breathalyzer test, you may have your driver’s license suspended for up to one year.

Challenging the Science of Breathalyzer Tests

Unlike field sobriety testing, which you are under no obligation to perform if asked, you must submit to a Breathalyzer. However, the results can be challenged since the science behind Breathalyzer tests has been shown to be inaccurate including the Intoxilyzer 5000 and 8000 models. Also, you can ask that an independent third party administer the breath test. Our lawyers have experience with challenging the results of Breathalyzer tests and constructing an effective defense. We understand that behind every charge is a personal story that might explain the circumstances. We strongly believe that an aggressive approach also means putting a human face on what might be seen only as cold criminal charges. For instance, under certain conditions, apparent intoxicated behavior can often be explained by fatigue, personality issues, weather or traffic conditions, and health problems. Also, sometimes behavior that appears to be intoxication is the result of prescription drugs. There are a multitude of reasons that can explain erratic behavior and our attorneys will always be thorough investigating all possibilities. Another important consideration is that the police are not experts at identifying drunk drivers. Sometimes, when the breath test results are low, and when the arresting officer still suspects foul play, the officer might then call in a drug recognition expert (“DRE”) to try to establish that the driver was driving under the influence of drugs. Unless the arresting officer has found drugs in or around the driver, has smelled drugs, or has an admission that the driver has been using drugs, the prosecutor must rely on blood test results and/or circumstantial evidence. Our attorneys will use defenses against the blood test results that include the evidence that drugs can stay in the bloodstream long after they have any effect on driving. More importantly, most of the defenses against the breath test results can be adapted to defending against the blood test results and Breathalyzer results. An aggressive and detailed approach is the best method to achieving success to these types of cases. The Law Offices of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. focus on this type of detailed, aggressive approach for every single client in our practice. We believe that fighting the results of a Breathalyzer test is a powerful tool in your defense to getting your DUI case reduced or dismissed. Contact our Washington DC office today and let us fight for you.

Fighting a Driver’s License Suspension

For many people, preserving the privilege to drive is the most critical component of their DWI charges. If you have been charged with DWI in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia, you must act quickly to schedule a DMV hearing to protect your driver’s license from automatic suspension. You have only fifteen calendar days to schedule a DMV hearing or your license will be automatically suspended for ninety days or more. When you accepted your driver’s license, you also gave the state implied consent to revoke your driving privileges based on suspicion of drunk driving. The DMV hearing is not a criminal proceeding and you have few constitutional rights. Aggressively fighting to save your driver’s license at the DMV hearing is much like defending yourself in your DWI criminal court case, although you have no protections against self-incrimination. You don’t need an attorney to represent you, but hiring an experienced DWI attorney will often make a positive difference in the outcome. Many people often do themselves more harm by answering questions that lead the hearing officer to increase the suspension time. We help prevent saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Getting the right DMV hearing officer is very important. We use our experience to ask the right questions to determine what officers will be most responsive to our defense strategies. In some cases, we are able to represent you in your absence, so you can concentrate on your job. In cases where you are required to attend, we handle everything to help you get through the process quickly and with a minimum of interference in your life.

It’s Never Too Late, Contact Our DUI/DWI Attorneys in DC, MD, or VA

Even if you have let things go until the last minute, there may still be time to file an appropriate motion to delay the proceeding. If your license is already under suspension, we can also help you obtain an occupational driver’s license for work and specific family needs. Contact our Washington DC offices to learn more about how we can help you protect your driver’s license at your DMV hearing. We have been protecting people’s rights and driving privileges since 1993.

Client Review

“I’ve known Mr. Brynn since 1999 when he accepted my case even when i was told by other attorneys I couldn’t win. Mr.Brynn won my case. I just recently had to call him and again he won my case. He is an awesome guy and a family man. Without him some things wouldn’t have been possible. Thanks”
Rennae Ford