A Georgia drunk driving arrest shouldn’t be taken lightly – a DUI conviction carries fines, driver’s license suspension, and even jail time. However, an arrest doesn’t equal an automatic conviction. An experienced attorney from 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com can provide a free consultation and outline a proven defense strategy that can reduce or even eliminate the consequences of a Georgia drinking and driving arrest.

Georgia DUI / DWI arrests actually generate two separate cases – a criminal court case and an administrative case that threatens the driver’s license. An accused Georgia drunk driver has only 10 business days from the date of arrest to request an administrative hearing or risk having his or her license automatically suspended.

Georgia drunk driving cases are prosecuted under one or both of two theories. The first is the traditional driving under the influence allegation, where the prosecutor tries to prove that the driver was impaired by alcohol and or drug use to the point where he or she was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.

A prosecutor attempting to prove an under the influence allegation will seek to introduce circumstantial evidence of the driver’s impairment, such as field sobriety test results, driving patterns, and physical signs and symptoms of impairment.

The second allegation is a violation of Georgia’s “per se” laws, which means the motorist is accused of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater. This allegation is proven almost exclusively through chemical test results.

Georgia has a five-year “washout” or “lookback” period for drinking and driving offenses, meaning that a DUI / DWI arrest that occurs more than five years after a prior conviction will be treated as a first offense. If the driver has a prior conviction that occurred less than five years before the later arrest, he or she will face the punishment of a multiple-offense drunk driver.

A first-offense Georgia DUI / DWI conviction is punishable by one day to one year in jail, a $300 to $1,000 fine, and 40 hours of community service. The driver also faces a one-year license suspension, mandatory alcohol education classes, and probation.

A second-offense Georgia drunk driver faces three days to one year in jail, a $600 to $1,000 fine plus a 20 percent to 30 percent assessment, a three-year driver’s license suspension, mandatory community service, alcohol education courses, and probation. The driver also will be required to install an ignition interlock device, have his or her license plates seized, and have the driver’s photograph published in the newspaper.

Because the consequences of a Georgia DUI / DWI arrest are so severe, it’s imperative to have a skilled defense lawyer fighting for the driver’s rights. The experienced local attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will provide a free consultation and outline an aggressive defense strategy designed to protect the driver’s rights and lessen the consequences of a Georgia drunk driving arrest.

DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.