Rome GA DUI Attorney

Berry College DUI Lawyer

If you are a college student charged in Rome GA or a resident, our Rome GA DUI Lawyers are here to help. With our 50 combined years of experience, we understand what it takes to achieve an excellent result in your case and know how to make it happen. With over 5,000 cases resolved, trust our process to get you a great result. Call now for a free case evaluation.

Berry College DUI Lawyer

When students get into trouble, they often face their criminal charges in court, and disciplinary sanctions through the College. Even if you only made one mistake, you can be punished twice.  The penalties, rules, and procedures are entirely different for the criminal justice system and the college disciplinary process and  that is why different strategies must be used to get the best outcome. While one strategy might work in the criminal case, that same approach could prove to be counter-productive in the disciplinary process. Our Berry College DUI Attorneys have represented hundreds of college students, and have much experience in dealing with both criminal and disciplinary systems.

Rome GA Open Container Laws

O.C.G.A. §40-6-253 (a)(2) defines an open container as any bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and is open or has a broken seal and the contents are partially removed. Containers that have been resealed will not constitute an open container.

Georgia's open container law reads as follows: A person shall not consume any alcoholic beverage or possess any open alcohol beverage in the passenger area of any motor vehicle which is on the roadway or shoulder of any public highway. O.C.G.A. §40-6-253(b)

Only the person possessing the alcohol will be charged with the violation. However, if there are no passengers, then only the driver will be charged. The statute outlines that if the seal has been opened and the contents have been partially removed, then that will constitute an open container. It does not explicitly state how much has to be removed, but courts have found that even if a small amount is gone, a charge will be justified.

Penalty for Open Container Conviction in Rome GA

A person convicted of open container in Georgia will be guilty of a misdemeanor. The punishment will be a fine up to $200.00. Additionally, two points will be added to your Georgia driver's license.  Even though the penalty seems minimal, it is still important to hire a Rome GA DUI Lawyer. For a person over 21, an accumulation of fifteen or more points within 24 months will lead to a one-year license suspension.

Many times, open container is charged along with other offenses such as DUI. It is best to have an attorney handle everything you have been accused of and try to work out a deal with the prosecution. Contact our DUI Attorneys in Rome GA and we will walk you through the process and inform you of your options.

However, if you are under 21 years of age and are charged with possessing an open container while driving, you could face a 120-day license suspension. You will also be ineligible for a limited-use driving permit. If you were the passenger charged with open container, you could still face an open container violation along with a minor in possession charge.

No matter what your situation is, our Rome GA DUI Lawyers want to help! We understand the penalties you are facing and want to help you avoid these consequences.

Rome GA Municipal Court

If you have been charged with DUI within Rome city limits, your case will proceed to Rome Municipal Court. Ms. Sonja Henderson is the Municipal Court Administrator, and she can be reached at 706.238.5150. The Court is located at 5 Government Plaza, Rome, GA 30161.

Contact our DUI Attorneys in Rome GA Today

It is critical to hire a Rome DUI Lawyer as soon as possible after you are arrested for DUI. We want to make sure we have ample time to build your defense. However, if you have court next week, we can still help! Call now for a free case evaluation with our DUI experts.