Driving Under the Influence of alcohol is for many people the only time they may find themselves on the wrong side of the law. It is crime which crosses many segments of society and often even court personnel sworn to enforce its penalties. It often causes more devastating consequences than more serious crimes because of residual effects of suspended license and the effect this may have on a person’s occupation, a person’s ability to perform their job (such as a truck/bus driver), and their ability to arrive at a job which otherwise may be unconcerned with driving status.

A person charged with DUI often must act within ten days of arrest to avoid an administrative suspension of their license which will take place thirty (30) days after arrest regardless of whether they have already had a court hearing on the actual DUI charge. Most DUI defendants are issued this notice of suspension along with the DUI charge. However often an officer fails to give this notice or a person does not realize it was issued until it is too late.

In many cases a defense to a DUI charge is not simply whether a test result was right or wrong, but rather - Did the officer have probable cause to stop in the first place? Was the equipment used for the test in good working order? Was the officer who administered the test certified? Did the officer advise of Georgia laws regarding implied consent? And - Did there exist probable cause for the arrest based on evidence after the stop which showed a likelihood of DUI.

Good representation on a DUI charge is often the difference between years of concerns and simply a lesson learned. There are several ways the State can convict you of DUI and whether or not you have an adequate defense is a determination which should be made by an attorney. The total cost of a DUI is not actually seen until several years later. Insurance rate changes, suspended license, work related issues, reinstatement fees, penalties, alcohol evaluation, education and treatment, lost wages and a general strike with potential new employers are all continuing expenses attributable to the DUI. Attorney fees are often the least of financial worries associated with DUI, and well worth the cost to know that all of your defenses have been considered.

If you have been cited for DUI, contact Attorney James W. Davis now!!