The Traffic Attorney - I Am What I Am

So the other day The Traffic Attorney was speaking with another attorney - a well-respected family law attorney in Maryland - and he asked why I defend people who put other people at risk by committing traffic violations. Before I could answer, he went on to say that people who drive after drinking alcohol are the scum of the earth and should be sentenced to life in prison, since they are being selfish. This particular attorney was very passionate about this subject, so I decided to indulge him.

I am not offended by this question. In fact, I get it a lot, both as a Maryland DUI attorney, and as a Maryland traffic ticket attorney.

But the answer is quite simple. So I explained to him. Some people fight for free speech or freedom to associate with whomever they wish. Others fight for equal rights. Still others fight for the right to bear arms. All of these principles are entrenched in the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, which we (as attorneys) have a duty to uphold.

My main passion is to fight for the rights of the accused. You see, two of the most basic tenets of our criminal defense system are the right to a competent defense and the right to a presumption of innocence. The right to a criminal defense attorney is embodied in the Sixth Amendment, while the presumption of innocence stems from the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Every day, I help support the document that serves as the foundation of our great country. If that means defending someone who had a couple of drinks then chose to drive, then I am okay with that.

I then asked this family law attorney how he can represent people every day who argue over who gets to keep a piece of property, or how much child support should be paid for the aid of a two-year old. He didn't have a good answer, and that was the end of the conversation.