Georgia DUI Information
Being arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Georgia is a very serious criminal offense. As you’re probably aware, the penalties are severe, so it’s only natural to be concerned. To help alleviate some of your confusion and anxiety, it’s best to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney.
One of the first things your attorney will tell you is that you must file an administrative appeal with the Department of Driver Services. If you fail to file the appeal within 10 business days of your arrest date, you will face an automatic one-year license suspension. Keep in mind, this is before you will have even stepped foot inside of criminal court. This is why it’s so important to contact a DUI defense attorney immediately following your arrest. Your attorney can assist you with filing the appeal and can even represent you during the administrative hearing.
Once your case makes it to criminal court, you will face a variety of penalties, including expensive fines, alcohol treatment programs, community service, probation and even jail. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, the judge may impose stricter penalties on you. For example, if you were transporting a minor or were involved in an accident that injured a person(s) or personal property, you could be facing harsher consequences.
In the state of Georgia, judges must impose minimum sentencing requirements when a person is convicted of driving under the influence. Because of this, even first-time offenders face a minimum jail sentence of 24 hours. It’s also important to understand that a DUI will stay on your criminal record permanently. Having a criminal record can affect your future employment, housing and school opportunities. This is just an other reason why you must do everything in your power to avoid a DUI conviction.
Whether you were charged with DUI because you were impaired by alcohol while operating a motor vehicle or your blood alcohol content was at or above the state’s legal limit of .08%, it’s important to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense attorney. He or she can help you avoid a DUI conviction.
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