Update: Uber Available in Ocean City Starting Friday May 22nd

           Starting tomorrow, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Annapolis will no longer be the only major cities in the Maryland region to have Uber’s ride pick-up service.  Visitors and residents in Ocean City can now use their phone to request an Uber driver to pick them up.  This was all made possible by the Maryland General Assembly, which passed legislation allowing companies like Uber and Lyft to legally operate in Maryland.  While taxis in the beach town are not too pleased about Uber operating in Ocean City this summer, vacationers are excited to have an easier way of getting up and down Coastal Highway without having to hail a cab or take the public bus.

            The most important advantage of having such a widely-known easy-to-use driving service is that a majority of teenagers and young adults know how to use the app.  With Uber having a presence in Ocean City now, it should likely cut down on the number of drunk driving related offenses and accidents.  One of the reasons why so many people choose to drink and drive is because it is just easier to get in your own car and drive home then to call a cab or wait for a bus.  Uber eliminates the difficulty that cabs and buses present.  With an easy and convenient way to get a safe ride home, the number of DUIs and drunk driving related accidents should decrease this summer in Ocean City.

            Remember if you will be drinking this weekend while down in Ocean City, or anywhere else in Maryland, make sure to plan ahead for arranging a sober ride home.  It is not worth it to risk your life or the life of an innocent person by driving your car under the influence of alcohol.  Only drive if you are sober.  If not, call an Uber driver, a cab, or take a public bus in order to get to your destination safely.

            If you are arrested for DUI this weekend in Ocean City, it is important that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney because of the severity of a DUI offense.  Portner & Shure attorneys have represented numerous clients arrested for drunk driving offenses and our attorneys will try to limit or reduce the consequences of your DUI offense.

             If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI in Maryland and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 and schedule an appointment at our office in Ocean City or throughout Maryland, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/

Ocean City, Maryland DUI / DWI Attorney

Visit us at:  www.portnerandshure.com

or call to speak with one of our experienced Ocean City, Maryland DUI attorneys at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation.

Pleading Guilty to a Ocean City, Maryland DUI Charge

Many of those who are convicted of a DUI are offered a plea bargain. This means there is an offer for a lesser charge, or other concession from prosecution, if the defendant states that he was guilty. It is very difficult for those who are charged with a DUI to know and understand if their plea bargain is truly a good deal - only an experienced DUI attorney can help you to determine the right choice to make: plea or fight.

 

Many who plead guilty without the advice of an experienced Ocean City, Maryland DUI attorney may not truly realize the consequences of their plea. The first thing to realize about pleading guilty is that you are waving all of your Constitutional rights in your case! This means that any right, such as your right to remain silent or your right to a trial, are forfeited.

 

After pleading guilty, you are convicted of the offense against you. Many fail to realize this simple fact: a guilty plea is the same as a conviction. After you have chosen to plead guilty, it will be extremely difficult for you to withdraw your guilty plea. This means that it is essential to understand the possible penalties that you face when pleading guilty. In Maryland, a first offense DUI charge can land you with up to 1 year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine and license suspension of up to 6 months, with a minimum of 45 days.

 

Portner & Shure has seen many cases in which clients had a good chance to fight their DUI charge in ways that the client did not even realize. There are also often offers for unfair plea bargains when a defendant faces their charges alone as opposed to alongside an attorney with an aggressive reputation. An experienced Ocean City, Maryland DWI Lawyer from Portner & Shure will help explain to you the mitigating and aggravating factors of your particular case and guide you to determine the best course of action to take.

 

An experienced Maryland DUI attorney who has seen countless DUI cases understands that there are many ways to succeed in a case, from getting a client a better plea deal, a lesser punishment, to even getting a "not guilty" finding. The complexities that are involved with a DUI case are too many to count. It is advised that you seek the counsel of a knowledgeable Maryland drunk driving attorney and have them review your case to discuss your options.

 

One of the best aspects of Portner & Shure is that they offer a risk-free consultation for clients. This means that an experienced Ocean City DUI attorney will speak with you about your case for free. Furthermore, our experienced Ocean City DUI lawyers are able to help clients who do not speak English or speak English as a second language. Our trained multilingual paralegals work closely with our highly-ranked Maryland DUI lawyers to help clients who speak Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. 

If you, a family member or someone you know has been convicted of driving under the influence or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI arrests, please call (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation or visit us on the web at http://portnerandshure.com