"An arrest for DUI does not mean you are guilty."

A DUI arrest can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. You are handed a citation and are immediately facing a police investigation, multiple court hearings, a license suspension, and the possibility of jail time, even for a first offense. Accepting whatever the prosecutor decides to offer you just so you can get this ordeal behind you can be tempting, but this is one of the worst mistakes you can make.   

Often times, drivers think if they were pulled over and submitted a breath sample over the legal limit, there is no recourse. That sample has sealed their fate, and they are guilty of DUI. This is not the case. Even if your charge is based on the results of a chemical test, there are several avenues your defense attorney can pursue. There is an extensive list of requirements that every DUI vehicle stop must satisfy before the it may be considered properly lawful. Officers must have undergone a specific training regime and all testing devices must be properly maintained and serviced. These regulations are in place to ensure that vehicle stops are conducted in a competent manner and obtain accurate results. If just one regulation was missed, this could have a dramatic impact on your case. 

There are some legal matters where a person without any training may be equipped to handle without the assistance of an attorney. A DUI arrest is not one of these situations. A trained and experienced lawyer will be able to examine each aspect of your arrest to identify any potential weak spots and capitalize upon these as part of your legal defense strategy. In addition, the stakes for a DUI conviction can be very high. The loss of driving privileges and having to spend time in jail are penalties that are not only inconvenient, but can severely disrupt employment and family obligations with serious economic and social costs. Additionally, a DUI conviction in Atlanta will be on your criminal record forever. Unlike some states where first time offenders can complete a rehabilitative course and have the offense expunged, a DUI conviction in Georgia can not be removed under any circumstances. 

The potential consequences of a conviction illustrate the importance of selecting the right attorney. When faced with a serious medical issue that could severely impact their life, most people would seek out the most specialized doctor with an extensive background in the field to treat their issue. Criminal charges are no different. A DUI conviction could severely impact your life, and it is important to seek out a specialized attorney with an extensive background in DUI defense.

The First 30 Days Following a DUI Arrest Are The Most Crucial

If you have been arrested for DUI in Georgia, your driver's license will automatically be suspended for one year. You can and should fight this suspension, but the only way to do this is to request a hearing or install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. You only have 30 days after being issued your suspension (the time of your arrest) to make either request. If you choose the hearing, it will be handled by the Department of Driver Services, which is a completely different system than the Municipal Court of Atlanta, where all of your criminal matters will be handled. This may sound incredibly confusing, but your attorney can handle both matters, and an attorney who has experience dealing with these systems will be able to successfully navigate both matters to get the best possible result. 

"DUI Only" Defense Firm

Richard Lawson has dedicated his entire legal career exclusively to handling DUI cases. He began as a DUI prosecutor, where he learned the methods and techniques that the state uses against defendants. Since opening his defense firm, he has only focused on DUI and related traffic offenses. In order to provide the highest quality representation, Richard has a comprehensive knowledge of the entire DUI investigation process. He is a NHTSA Certified DUI Field Sobriety Testing Instructor, and has studied the Intoxilyzer 5000 (the same curriculum used by the Georgia State Patrol). 

Related traffic offenses that often accompany DUI charges that Richard Lawson has successfully handled include:

• Multiple Offense DUI
• Habitual Violator
• Boating Under the Influence
• Juvenile DUIs
• Reckless Driving
• Hit and Run
• Georgia DUI Child Endangerment 
• Alcohol and Drug Possession 
• Open Container Violations

As well as minor traffic offenses routinely associated with a DUI, such as speeding, failure to maintain a lane, following too close, and failure to report an accident.