Driving while drinking or taking drugs can impair your ability to drive your car and lead to serious criminal charges. You could even lose your driving privileges if you are arrested or convicted of a DUI, restricting your freedom and your ability to work as you normally would.
If you do face DUI charges, you should get an Atlanta DUI lawyer on your side to build your defense. From an arrest through a criminal prosecution, Rafus Law is prepared to stand by you and protect your rights.
Contact our dedicated criminal defense attorneys today for a free consultation.
State laws criminalize the operation of a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol, even if consuming the substance in question is legal. For example, prescription drugs used properly by a person with a prescription can still impair a driver and lead to a DUI as much as drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs.
Under Georgia Code § 40-6-391, a driver who consumes alcohol or drugs to the point that it becomes less safe for them to operate a vehicle may face a DUI conviction. The statute also defines DUI by a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, or by any detectable amount of marijuana or controlled substances in a driver’s system if they are impaired.
A first DUI offense is classified as a misdemeanor, carrying a fine between $300 and $1,000 and a jail sentence ranging from 10 days to one year. A second misdemeanor offense increases penalties to a fine between $600 and $1,000 and 90 days to one year in jail. Additional offenses may rise to aggravated misdemeanors or felonies, with steeper fines and prison terms exceeding one year.
On top of these penalties, a person convicted of a DUI can have their license suspended, with suspensions increasing with multiple offenses under Georgia Code § 40-5-75. With the ability to drive and serious consequences on the line, a person confronting a DUI charge in Atlanta should get an attorney on their side.
No one should face the criminal justice system alone, as a person suspected or charged with a crime may not understand how their rights function. For example, an attorney can help save your license from suspension and meet the strict deadlines.
An attorney can assist in presenting a person’s account of events and ensuring that law enforcement follows proper procedures when collecting evidence. In DUI cases, legal counsel could examine whether breathalyzer or blood tests were administered correctly and whether any coercion occurred during the process.
Once charged with a DUI, a person can rely on their lawyer to defend them in court, gathering evidence of their evidence and challenging the story told by the prosecution. With the complexity of the rules governing criminal cases, an Atlanta attorney can provide the knowledge necessary to navigate a DUI prosecution.
Even if you have only been arrested for DUI and do not yet face charges, you should contact an Atlanta DUI lawyer for help. At Rafus Law, we can protect you from overreach by the government and can start developing your defense to prevent criminal penalties. Contact our offices to learn more about Atlanta DUIs and to get started today with your free consultation.
