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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 / Updated August 2026. This article provides general information about Maryland law and is not legal advice.