At the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson, we are whole-heartedly dedicated to helping people facing DUI charges. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never okay, but convicting someone of a crime they didn't commit is wrong, too. Over the past 20+ years, lawyers from our firm have helped people keep their driver's license and stay out of jail. Even your first DUI conviction could result in heave fines, probation – even incarceration. Don't give up! We are ready to give you the legal assistance you need; call today for a free case evaluation to see what we can do for your case.

After your arrest, you have ten days to schedule an ALS hearing to get your driver's license back. According to Georgia law, your driver's license is automatically suspended after police arrest you under the suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Fortunately, ALS hearings give you the opportunity to present evidence in your favor so that your license can be reinstated. An attorney may represent you at the hearing. If you want to get your driving privileges back, we may be able to help – call anytime to see what a lawyer from the firm can do for you.

I've Been Arrested for DUI: Now what?

After you've been arrested, you have the right to defend yourself in court. An attorney form our firm can help you understand your legal rights and fight aggressively for your freedom. The prosecution must, without a reasonable doubt, prove that you drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs in order to convict you. In order to do this, the prosecuting attorneys will most likely present blood and breath tests as evidence against you. Additionally, they may claim that you failed standardized field sobriety tests.

At the firm, we have studied DUI detection, blood and breath tests and field sobriety tests in order to represent our clients effectively in court. Blood and breath test are an integral part of almost any intoxicated driving case and trial. According to Georgia law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher; drivers under the age of 21 may not operate a vehicle with a BAC of .02% or higher. Although breath and blood tests are often used to convict drivers of DUI, they are not always accurate. In fact, a variety of factors can influence test results.

For instance, if you have a fever, the elevated temperature of your body may affect the outcome of the test. In the state of Georgia, breath tests can only be conducted by a machine called the Intoxilizer 5000. The Intoxilizer 500 is not the latest breath-test machine on the market, but is used statewide to convict people of driving under the influence. At the firm, our attorneys are trained to identify intoxicated drivers and have received the same instruction that Georgia police officers are taught. Armed with this knowledge, our attorneys understand the weaknesses of these test mechanisms and use them to the advantage of our clients in the courtroom.

Defending Clients for More than 20 Years

For nearly two decades, attorneys from the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson have defended the rights of our clients with aggression and enthusiasm. As defense attorneys, we understand that some DUI cases are more difficult to defend than others. If you fell like the prosecution has a strong case against you, taking a plea bargain may be in your best interest. We have resolved more than 4,900 DUI-related cases in dismissals, case reductions, and plea bargain negotiations.

What is a plea bargain? Generally speaking, a plea bargain involves negotiations between the defense and prosecution, in which the defense agrees to plead guilty if the prosecution offers to reduce the allegations held against the defendant or lessen the defendant's sentence severity. You may wonder if you actually need an attorney to represent you during a plea bargain. Although a bargain eliminates the necessity of a trial, you may still want an experienced lawyer helping you in the courtroom.

Without an attorney, the prosecution will assume that you are going to plead guilty. In this situation, they may not be willing to negotiate a favorable settlement. With an attorney by your side, the prosecution will recognize that you are serious about staying out of jail and be more likely to offer you a favorable negotiation. At the firm, our attorneys are skilled plea bargain negotiators. If you're facing a difficult DUI case, contact the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson so we can begin create an effective defense for you.

Gilmer County Resources:

Official Website
Gilmer County Superior Court
Gilmer County Sheriff's Office
DUI Resource Center