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Alpharetta DUI Lawyers

• Saginar, Edwin: If I were a potential client searching the internet and other resources in an attempt to choose an attorney to represent me, I would ask the following questions: 1. Does the attorney have a good academic background and significant experience in the profession and specific area of practice? 2. Will I have an open communication and easy access to my attorney? 3. Will I receive from my attorney an understanding of what my rights and responsibilities are and what the Courts are likely to do in my situation so that I can make my choices in a logical and businesslike manner? 4. Will my attorney have a genuine concern about the outcome of the representation, thereby my future? 5. Are the attorney's billing rates in accordance with the skills, experience and competition in the local area?
• Teiger, Tracy: Whether you were arrested for DUI or are facing a drug charge, it is necessary that you consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can effectively assert your rights in and out of court.
• Williams, Jeffrey: t is often said that a first-time DUI is not usually life-changing, a second drunk driving offense may become life-changing and a third DUI/DWI charge is definitely life-changing. The problem with this way of thinking is that a first DUI sets the stage for subsequent drunk driving convictions. For this reason, even a first arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol must be taken seriously, and handled accordingly. First Offense or Repeat Offense Whether you have been arrested for DUI for the first time or face charges for an alleged repeat violation, your need for a vigorous legal defense couldn't be more urgent.
• Gregg Schuder: If you have been charged with driving under the influence, there are several consequences you may be facing. The severity of the penalties increases with the number of offenses. Included in these penalties is the loss of driving privileges, jail time, and costly fines. People charged with DUI/DWI are also subject to driver's license revocation and/or suspension. The decision to revoke or suspend your driver's license or to allow you to have a hardship license will be made in Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearings before the Department of Driver Services (DDS).
• Siemon Law Firm:

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Do I Really Need an Attorney?

  The truth is that you can represent yourself.  However, Police and Prosecutors have extensive training and experience which they will use to convict you of driving under the influence and to ensure that you receive the maximum fines, probation and jail time possible. 

  Therefore, going into court without an Attorney working on your side to protect your rights under the law will put you at a significant disadvantage.  Here at the Siemon Law Firm we will work hard to ensure that your legal rights are protected and that you are not taken advantage of by the system. 

  Why are the first 10 days so important?

  The first 10 days after your arrest are critical because there are steps that your Attorney can take to help you keep your drivers license.  Under Georgia law, the State can administratively suspend your license 10 days after you are charged with dui even before the police and prosecution prove that you were in fact driving drunk! 

  You may be asking yourself, what about being innocent until proven guilty.  This is just the first of many examples that will come up during your prosecution for dui in which the State will deprive you of your rights if you do not have an Attorney working hard to protect you.  

  Can I be charged with DUI if I have only had a couple of drinks?

  In Georgia there are two ways that you can be charged with DUI.  The first way someone 21 years of age or older can be charged with DUI is to have a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher.  The second way you can be charged with DUI is if the police and prosecutor can prove that because you consumed alcohol you were "less safe" to drive. 

  Your blood alcohol level depends of several factors including your weight, how much you recently had to eat, the amount of alcohol in the beverages you consume, your body's ability to process the alcohol, etc. 

  If the police test your blood alcohol level and it registers .08, (approximately 3 drinks for a 160 pound male) than the prosecution can use that evidence to convict you of DUI whether you were actually too drunk to safely drive your vehicle or not.  However, there are methods which an Attorney can use to dispute the results of the test or possibly keep them out of court entirely.    

  If the prosecutor can not prove that your blood alcohol level is .08 or higher they can still pursue the "less safe" charge.  For this charge the police will testify to your performance in field sobriety tests or other evidence that you were too intoxicated to safely operate your vehicle.  Again, there are ways in which an Attorney can dispute this evidence and protect your rights. 

  How much will a DUI attorney cost?

  The total cost of your defense will depend on the circumstances of your individual case.  Some major factors that will effect your total costs will include your decision to use expert witnesses and whether or not you decide to exercise your right to trial.  All of these decisions will ultimately be your own to make.

• Daniel Mitnick:

  In Georgia, there are three levels of driving under the influence:

  • A per se violation--(.08) blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
    
  •  Less safe--(.05) BAC
    
  •  For commercial drivers and drivers under 21 (.02) BAC
• Thomas Salata: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol is a common but serious offense in Georgia. A DUI charge can have an adverse effect on your career, family and ultimately your freedom. One can be arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol simply upon an officer?s belief in probable cause. The legal limits are very low, and the State of Georgia has adopted an almost zero tolerance to person driving under the influence.