Marietta DUI Attorney

Drunk Driving Penalties in Marietta

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not merely a traffic violation in Georgia, but is actually a criminal offense. Drinking and driving dramatically increases the risk of causing a car accident, so lawmakers in our state have criminalized this behavior with the goal of preventing anyone from taking the risk of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. If you have been arrested and accused of drunk driving or DUI & drugs, you must take action now to defend yourself from the serious consequences you face.

Under Georgia Code § 40-6-391 (2012), a first offense DUI is a misdemeanor, carrying a fine as high as $1,000 and a sentence in county jail as long as one year, as well as forty hours of community service and being ordered to compete alcohol or drug treatment or counseling. A second arrest carries tougher penalties, including a minimum jail sentence of ninety days and thirty days of community service, while for a third conviction you can be fined as much as $5,000 and held in jail at least 120 days. If you are arrested for a fourth time, you can be convicted of a felony and held in state prison for up to five years.

DUI Driver's License Suspension

Even if you are able to avoid the criminal penalties of a drunk driving conviction, you are still at risk of losing your driver's license. A first time DUI for a driver over 21 years old carries a license suspension lasting up to 120 days, while a second conviction will also require you to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Underage DUI is punishable by a license suspension lasting six months, or twelve months for a blood alcohol concentration above .08%.

Marietta Criminal Lawyer for DUI Charges

An attorney from Henrickson & Sereebutra, LLC can defend you on DUI charges, no matter how serious the case may be. The attorneys are former prosecutors and have been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as having completed a course for DUI detection and standardized field sobriety tests, a background which gives them an edge in challenging the evidence in your case.

If it can be proven that there were errors in the testing procedures or that you were the victim of an illegal traffic stop, where the officer did not have probable cause to pull you over, it may be possible to have the charges dismissed. Even if this cannot be done, a Marietta DUI lawyer from the team might be able to negotiate with the District Attorney for a reduced sentence with lighter penalties. Time is of the essence with these types of cases and that is why it is imperative that you contact a qualified criminal lawyer as soon as possible. Waiting until the last minute could mean all the difference in you keeping their freedom.

View the firm's profile at FindaDUIAttorney.com.