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The short answer
A Montgomery County DUI or DWI arrest can create two cases: a criminal court case and a separate MVA driver’s-license matter. Handling one does not automatically resolve the other.
Cochran & Chhabra Law Group represents drivers in Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and throughout Montgomery County.
What happens next
- Police file charges. Most misdemeanor DUI and DWI cases begin in the District Court of Maryland.
- The MVA process begins. Your temporary-license and suspension paperwork explains the available options and deadlines.
- Evidence is reviewed. The stop, field tests, video, statements, and chemical testing all matter.
- A strategy is built. The defense may involve negotiations, motions, trial, and separate MVA action.
What a DUI defense reviews
- Whether police had a lawful reason for the stop
- What body-camera or dash-camera video shows
- How field sobriety tests were explained and scored
- Whether breath or blood procedures were followed
- Whether medical conditions, medication, footwear, weather, or road conditions affected the evidence
DUI and DWI are different
A 0.08 alcohol concentration can support a per-se DUI allegation. A 0.07 result may support a DWI allegation, and other evidence may be used below those numbers. Read our Maryland BAC and legal-limit guide.
What to bring to a consultation
- Citations, charging documents, and court notices
- The temporary license and MVA paperwork
- Photos, videos, receipts, and a written timeline
- A medication list and relevant medical information
- Messages from the MVA, prosecutor, insurer, or employer
Visit our Maryland DUI and DWI defense page, or call 410.268.5515.
Reviewed by Mandeep S. Chhabra, Managing Member, August 2026. This article provides general information about Maryland law and is not legal advice.