Statham DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Statham, it is critical that you act fast and hire an attorney that is experienced in defending DUI charges. At The Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson, our DUI Lawyers in Statham have over 25 years of DUI defense experience. If you hire us to defend you, we guarantee that you will receive a favorable outcome in your case.

Statham DUI Process

In order to be stopped and arrested on suspicion of a Georgia DUI, the arresting officer needs probable cause to believe that a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officers obtain the probable cause needed to make a DUI arrest by observing poor driving patterns, watching for signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, an odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and poor performance on field sobriety tests. There are other things officers are looking for, but those are just some of the signals used to justify a DUI stop.

A driver has the ability to limit the probable cause that the officers are looking for by taking steps to enforce their rights. If pulled over on suspicion of DUI, the driver should not say anything except to invoke their 5th Amendment right to remain silent and request a Statham DUI attorney. Furthermore, the field sobriety tests are optional and should not be performed. Field sobriety tests can be difficult even for people not under the influence, and there are often extenuating factors that contribute to the failure of those tests. Lastly, the breathalyzer test is also optional and should not be taken. However, you do have to submit to the state's test or request your own test! This is not the roadside breathalyzer test; it is the State's chemical test.

By limiting the probable cause, you give your Statham DUI Lawyer the ability to argue that the arrest was illegal because the officer did not have the required probable cause to make the DUI arrest.

It is important to note that taking these steps does not mean that you won't be arrested. The purpose of protecting your rights is to help with your DUI Defense in court. The officers will still likely make the arrest, but now you have armed your defense lawyer with arguments to contest the initial arrest. 

After the arrest, you will be released with a court date. The court will schedule a hearing called an arraignment. At the arraignment, the person accused of DUI, will enter a plea, be advised on their rights, and the charges pending against them.

After the arraignment, there may be several or no pretrial hearings to allow the prosecutor and your attorney to examine your case and negotiate a plea deal. A plea deal may include a reduction to reckless driving or some other lesser charge. If no agreement can be reached, then the case will proceed to trial. At the trial, the prosecutor has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you drove a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.

If the trial returns a verdict of not guilty, then you will suffer no legal penalties. However, if you are found guilty, you will face significant fines. The decision to accept a plea deal or go to trial is not one to be taken lightly. It must be carefully considered with the help of an experienced Statham DUI Attorney.

This is just a very basic overview of a DUI charge. There are many intricacies not mentioned, and we encourage people charged with a DUI not to try and take on the system by themselves. Hire a qualified and knowledgeable DUI Lawyer in Statham who knows the DUI process inside and out and will give you the best chance at a favorable outcome.

Statham Municipal Court

If you were arrested within the city limits of Statham for a city ordinance violation, traffic violation, or DUI, your case will proceed in Statham Municipal Court. The Court is held at the Statham Community Center located at 336 Jefferson Street, Statham, GA 30666. For more information, call 770-725-7100.

Contact Our DUI Attorneys in Statham Today

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI, your life is far from over! A charge is not the same as a conviction and there are numerous defenses our Statham DUI Lawyers can use to defend your case. We guarantee that you will be heard and we will aggressively fight for your rights. Call now and find out how we will make all the difference in your case.