Annapolis DUI Lawyer
A DUI or DWI charge in Annapolis puts two things at risk at once: your criminal record and your driver's license. The criminal case runs through the Anne Arundel County courts. The license case runs through the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) on a separate, faster clock. A conviction can bring jail time, fines, points, higher insurance rates, and for anyone who drives for work, the job itself.
The lawyer you choose shapes the outcome. Our Annapolis attorneys are part of a statewide team of Maryland DUI attorneys, so you get local courtroom knowledge backed by trial experience from across the state.
Updated for 2026: What a Maryland DUI Carries
Section 21-902 of the Transportation Article sets the maximum penalties for every drunk and drugged driving offense in Maryland. Here is what the current law carries:
| Charge | First offense | Second offense |
|---|---|---|
| DUI or DUI per se (Section 21-902(a)) | Up to 1 year and/or $1,200 fine, 12 points | Up to 2 years and/or $2,400 fine |
| DWI (Section 21-902(b)) | Up to 2 months and/or $500 fine, 8 points | Up to 1 year and/or $500 fine |
A few things raise the stakes:
- A minor in the car. A first-offense DUI with a passenger under 18 carries up to 2 years and a $2,000 fine (Section 21-902(a)(2)).
- Priors within 5 years. A second DUI conviction within 5 years carries a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail that the judge cannot suspend. A third carries 10 days (Section 21-902(f)).
- Test refusal. If the court finds you knowingly refused a chemical test, it can add up to 2 months and a $500 fine on top of the DUI penalty (Section 21-902(g)). The MVA imposes its own license consequences on top of that.
On the license side, a first DWI conviction can bring a 60-day suspension, and a first DUI conviction can bring a 6-month revocation. We handle the MVA hearing alongside the criminal case and walk you through both.
Our Experienced DWI Lawyers in Annapolis, MD
Max Frizalone
Built a solid reputation as a DUI specialist by securing acquittals by jury and judge in numerous counties.
- Completed NHTSA DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and NHTSA Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement Training (ARIDE)
- Committed member of the National College for DUI Defense
- Track record of not-guilty verdicts and charge reductions in DUI cases.
Luke Woods
Seasoned DUI litigator with hundreds of criminal traffic trials.
- Served in multiple roles within the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (Army JAGS) and as a District Public Defender for Calvert County.
- Has tried hundreds of criminal traffic offenses, including countless DUI cases.
- NHTSA-trained and a committed member of the National College for DUI Defense.
Our firm has handled more than 170 DUI matters since January 2022, from first offenses to repeat and aggravated cases. Through aggressive pretrial motions and trial work, 41% of the DUI charges we've handled have been dismissed, nolle prossed, stetted, or resolved by acquittal. The overwhelming majority of our DUI clients have resolved their cases without a DUI conviction on their record.
Verified internally; last updated: Jul 12, 2026.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) set the standards police follow in Maryland DUI investigations. Our Annapolis DUI lawyers trained on the same materials. We know how officers are supposed to detect DUI and DWI and how they are supposed to administer field sobriety tests, which means we know where they cut corners. When an officer skips a step, we use it to challenge the stop, the arrest, or the test results.
Every case turns on its own facts. We dig into yours: the reason for the stop, the roadside tests, the breath or blood result, and your driving record, then build the defense around what we find.
We also take the time to explain what happens in court and at the MVA hearing, and we answer your questions until you understand your case as well as we do. Our firm has handled thousands of DUI and DWI cases, and most of our clients come to us as referrals from former clients.
Plenty of lawyers say they handle DUI cases. We watch some of them plead clients guilty in cases that should have gone to trial. Before you hire the cheapest lawyer in town, call us for a free consultation and hear what a real defense looks like.
Understanding DUI and DWI in Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland charges impaired driving at two levels, and the difference matters for both penalties and defenses.
If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or higher, the State can charge you with DUI per se (driving under the influence). If your BAC was 0.07 and the officer documented signs of impairment, the State can charge DWI (driving while impaired) instead. Your exposure also depends on whether you have a prior DUI conviction, since repeat offenses carry mandatory minimums and higher ceilings.
What Should You Do if Police Stop You?
- Do not admit to drinking.
- Do not admit to using drugs.
- Tell the officer you will not perform field sobriety tests but that you want to cooperate.
- Do not agree to a preliminary breath test.
- Ask to speak with an Annapolis DUI lawyer.
You have the right to consult a DUI attorney before deciding whether to take an alcohol concentration test at the station. Use it.
If you are under 21, or your child is the one facing the charge, get counsel involved before anyone talks to police. Juveniles hold the same constitutional protections as adults, and early advice changes outcomes.
Breath Tests, Blood Tests, and Your Rights
Before you take or refuse a breath or blood test, the officer must read you an advice of rights form that spells out the administrative penalties: what happens to your license if you blow 0.08 or higher, and what happens if you refuse. These are not Miranda warnings. They are the MVA consequences, and officers get them wrong more often than you would think.
Testing becomes mandatory in only two situations after a motor vehicle collision: when someone else suffered a life-threatening injury, or when someone else died. Outside those two situations, the choice to test is yours, and each option carries trade-offs an attorney can walk you through in the moment.
The Judges Who Decide Annapolis DUI Cases
As the county seat, Annapolis is home to the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County, the court that handles most DUI and DWI charges in the area as part of District 7. If your case is serious enough or you ask for a jury, it can shift to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Why does the assigned judge matter so much? That judge controls your bail and pretrial release, rules on the motions we file to challenge the stop and the breath or blood testing, and makes the sentencing call, including whether a first offender earns a Probation Before Judgment rather than a conviction. Walking into court with counsel who understands how each judge handles those decisions can change the outcome of your case.
The judges currently sitting in District 7 are Jennifer M. Alexander, Kemp Walden Hammond, Thomas V. Miller III, Danielle M. Mosley, Thomas J. Pryal, and Laura Marie Robinson. Shaem C.P. Spencer is the Administrative Judge for the district.
Frequently Asked Questions about Annapolis DUI Charges
Where will my Annapolis DUI case be heard?
Most Annapolis DUI and DWI cases start in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County, part of District 7. If you request a jury trial or the State files more serious charges, the case moves to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.
What does a first-offense DUI carry in Maryland?
Under Section 21-902(a), a first-offense DUI carries up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,200, plus 12 points on your license. A first-offense DWI under Section 21-902(b) carries up to 2 months and/or a $500 fine, plus 8 points.
Do I have to take the field sobriety tests?
No. Field sobriety tests are voluntary in Maryland, and you can decline them without a separate penalty. The chemical test at the station is different: refusing it triggers MVA license consequences and can add a separate charge under Section 21-902(g).
Can I get a Probation Before Judgment for an Annapolis DUI?
Many first offenders can. A Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) strikes the conviction and places you on probation instead, which protects your record and avoids the 12 points. It is up to the judge, and the facts of your case, your record, and your preparation before sentencing all factor into the decision.
Do you have an office near Annapolis?
Yes. Our Severna Park office at 540 Ritchie Hwy, Suite 301 sits about 15 minutes from Annapolis and serves all of Anne Arundel County. Call (410) 883-5667 any time.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation Regarding Your DUI Charges
Call FrizWoods or contact us online for a free consultation about your DUI case. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and an attorney, not a call center, walks you through your options.
Our Severna Park Office Near Annapolis
The closest FrizWoods office to Annapolis is in Severna Park, serving all of Anne Arundel County:
FrizWoods LLC
540 Ritchie Hwy Suite 301
Severna Park, MD 21146
(410) 883-5667
View our Severna Park office on Google or leave us a Google review.
Serving Annapolis and Nearby Anne Arundel Communities
A DUI charge in Annapolis runs through the Anne Arundel County District Court, and it also opens a separate license case at the MVA. Facing other charges alongside the DUI? Our Annapolis criminal lawyer page covers them. You can also see our county-wide Anne Arundel County DUI lawyer page and the statewide Maryland criminal lawyer hub.
We also handle DUI cases in neighboring Anne Arundel communities: