Facing the possibility of a criminal conviction is never easy, especially if you've been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you've been charged with a criminal allegation in a small town like Blairsville, it may be difficult to escape the stigma of a conviction on your record. That's why our firm is dedicated to helping people keep their driver's licenses and stay out of jail. After an arrest, you may feel overwhelmed at the idea of a trial. Don't let the tedious nature of DUI legal proceedings keep you from talking to a defense attorney; even if you feel hopeless, a lawyer from the firm may be able to reduce your charges to reckless driving - an offense that may not even merit a trial.

Practice Areas

At the firm, we are experienced in every area of DUI defense. Whether you are facing your first arrest or a case with prior charges, we are ready to give you high-quality legal assistance you need. In Georgia, DUI convictions carry heavy penalties, including the suspension of your driver's license. Whether you realize it or not, DUI charges can involve more than alcohol. At the firm, we are ready to help people wrongfully accused of drugged driving, too. If you are accused of marijuana possession - even if you are not behind the wheel of a car – your license could be suspended. If police find even less than one ounce of marijuana on your person, your license may be suspended for six months.

Underage DUI is considered a serious crime in Georgia. If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol while under the age of 21, contacting an attorney may be your best option. In order to be convicted, motorists under the age of 21 only need a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02%. If convicted, underage drivers may face incarceration, license suspension or other penalties. If you need help fighting allegations of underage drinking and driving, contact a lawyer from the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson today. With more than 20 years of legal experience and thousands of cases behind us, our attorneys are more than qualified to give you the help you need.

Strategic Plea Bargaining

If you feel like the evidence is stacked against, you, taking a plea bargain may be your best option. You may wonder if you really need an attorney to help you plead guilty. If you represent yourself in a plea bargain, the prosecution will presume that you are going to plead guilty. In this situation, the prosecution probably won't off you a fair sentence reduction. At the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson, our attorneys are skilled negotiators. We understand the ins and outs of DUI prosecution and are ready to help you get a favorable plea bargain. Negotiations are a skill, and our lawyers have extensive experience work with the other side of the courtroom to get our clients fair and reasonable bargains. We are proud of our reputation as aggressive and enthusiastic legal reputation. If you are facing a DUI conviction, don't assume that an attorney can't help you, let us help you get the settlement you want.

DUI and Child Endangerment

In Georgia, child endangerment and driving under the influence are not considered one crime; they will be tried separately in court. If police officers suspect that you are driving under the influence of alcohol with a child in the car, you will be arrested for intoxicated driving and child endangerment. Although these two offenses will be tried as separate crimes in court, the penalties for both may be enhanced if you are convicted. If you are facing allegations of driving under the influence and child endangerment, talk to an attorney from the firm today – we are ready to fight for your rights in court.

Field Sobriety Tests

When police officers suspect that a driver is intoxicated, they may ask him/her to perform one or more tasks. These tasks, such as the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, on-leg stand, and walk-and-turn are designed to measure the driver's coordination abilities. Because alcohol can leave your coordination less accurate than usual, failure to execute these tasks properly may lead to a DUI arrests. However, they are not always accurate. Every year, overzealous police officers arrest people for failing these tests. In reality, you could fail a field sobriety test just by tripping or being clumsy. At the firm, we are ready to help clients who have been arrested by over-enthusiastic officers. If you're facing charges of driving under the influence, talk to an attorney from our firm today.

Blairsville Links and Resources

Blairsville, Georgia
Blairsville Detailed Profile
Blairsville History and Demographics
Map of Blairsville
Blairsville City Court
DUI Info Center