What Happens the First Time You Are Arrested For a DUI in Atlanta Georgia?
Your first DUI arrest in Atlanta Georgia will remain etched upon your memory forever, and can be an extremely distressful event for anyone; particularly for someone trying to stay away from alcohol or substance abuse.
Do not delay hiring an Atlanta drunk driving defense attorney as soon as you are accused. They can start building your case right away by hiring experts in alcohol and drug testing, obtaining breathalyzer analysis of test results or challenging legality of arrest.
Your DUI lawyer will ensure that the police officer conducting your test has the appropriate equipment and has conducted it correctly, which is especially critical given that many tests used by police to ascertain a driver’s possible impairment from drugs or alcohol are non-standardized and do not accurately represent your blood alcohol concentration levels.
These methods of testing may be inaccurate or even dangerous if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and can even endanger you and others in public spaces. An experienced Atlanta DUI attorney may be able to demonstrate that certain tests weren’t validly administered, challenging their results as invalid and misleading.
As part of your defense strategy, your attorney will also work to prevent your Georgia driver’s license from being suspended. Should this occur, all driving privileges could be temporarily lost until reinstated at a later time.
An attorney with experience in DUI can help reduce or drop suspensions altogether. Your lawyer can file motions for suppression of evidence – including video footage of your arrest.
Experienced Atlanta DUI lawyers know how important pre-trial motions are and will file them promptly to increase your odds of a favorable result in your case.
Your DUI lawyer should file an effective discovery motion seeking access to the video footage or witness statements pertaining to your arrest in Atlanta for DUI charges, in order to review it before trial begins. This will give them ample opportunity to prepare their defense strategy accordingly.
After your initial arraignment date, your Atlanta criminal lawyer will work towards setting a future jury trial date for any misdemeanor DUI or traffic offense that requires one. You are entitled to have this trial before an impartial panel.
Never waive this right in City of Atlanta Municipal Court even if you plead guilty, as doing so could seriously undermine your chances of a successful trial. Instead, request a continuance so you can prepare thoroughly for your case and hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help reduce or win your DUI charge down to reckless driving or another lesser offense.
Failure to appear for court on an upcoming case can have severe repercussions, from losing your license and incurring additional fees to having probation revoked altogether. Be mindful of what can happen if you miss your scheduled court appearances as failure to do so may incur more hefty consequences than anticipated.
