Stephens County DUI Lawyer

At the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson, we pride ourselves on being Georgia's premier DUI defense firm. The attorneys at our office have dedicated their lives to protecting those charged with DUI. Whether it is a first DUI charge, DUI child endangerment, third DUI, or DUI drugs, our DUI Attorneys in Stephens County are here to help. Our founder, Richard S. Lawson, is a former North GA prosecutor who brings invaluable experience to our team. He knows how to make the law work for you because he knows how the other side thinks! Call now for a free no-obligation case evaluation.

DUI Child Endangerment Charge in Stephens County

In Georgia, DUI charges are taken very seriously. However, these charges are escalated when there are children involved. Under Georgia law, child endangerment applies when there is a child under the age of 14 in the vehicle. A person can be charged with DUI and child endangerment when found to be driving a vehicle with children while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The penalties are severe, and it is in your best to hire a Stephens County DUI Lawyer after a DUI child endangerment arrest.

Child endangerment can manifest in several ways. These include:

• Not using a car seat
• Putting a child's life at risk due to dangerous driving
• Not fastening a child's car seat
• Failure to provide adequate and reasonable care due to impairment

Child endangerment and DUI are two separate charges. Furthermore, a driver may find themselves charged with multiple DUI's when there are multiple children in the car. Georgia law adds a new DUI charge for each child under 14 years of age that was in the vehicle. The resulting convictions can be misdemeanor DUI or even felony DUI charges when the charges start to add up. For example, if convicted of DUI and 2 child endangerment charges out of the same arrest, your conviction will be treated as a 3rd in 5 years conviction for license suspension purposes. It will even count towards being a habitual violator meaning that you could lose your Georgia driving license for up to five years.

Additionally, if your job requires you to drive, a conviction for DUI and child endangerment could mean the loss of your job. Situations where this could apply include:

• Truck drivers
• Employees who use company cars or fleet vehicles
• Salespeople
• Real estate agents
• Bus drivers

How Our DUI Attorneys in Stephens County Can Defend Your Case

There are always defenses that we can use to defend your case. We can argue for an alternative sentence or attempt to reduce the charges. Our DUI Lawyers in Stephens County have decades of experience defending DUI charges. Because a child endangerment charge depends upon proving that the driver was under the influence, we will fight the DUI charge first. If the State is unable to show you are guilty of the underlying DUI charge, then you could not have endangered a child.

Fighting a DUI child endangerment charge can be done in a number of ways. Some defenses your Stephens County DUI Attorney could use include, but are not limited to:

• Challenging the reason for the initial traffic stop
• Challenging the results and accuracy of the blood or breath test
• Demonstrating that the child was over 14 years of age

Stephens County Superior Court

Stephens County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felony DUI cases. In addition, if your case began in Probate or Municipal Court and you request a jury trial, your case will be bound over to Superior Court. Stephens County Superior Court is in the Mountain Judicial Circuit along with Rabun and Habersham counties. Two judges serve on the Mountain Judicial Circuit: Chief Judge Chan Caudell and Judge Russell Smith. Mr. Tim Quick is the Clerk of Superior Court and can be reached at 706-886-3598. Stephens County Superior Court is located at 70 N. Alexander Street, Toccoa, GA 30577.

Stephens County State Court

If you were arrested for DUI outside of Toccoa city limits, your case will proceed in Stephens County State Court. The Honorable Judge James T. Irvin presides over the Court. Court is located at 70 N. Alexander Street, Toccoa, GA 30577. For more information, call 706-886-3598.

Toccoa Recorders Court

If you were arrested within Toccoa city limits for a city ordinance violation, traffic offense, or DUI, your case will proceed in Recorder's Court. The Honorable Robert Sneed is the Judge and can be contacted by calling 706-886-7553. Court is held at 203 N Alexander Street, Toccoa, Georgia 30577. 

Contact Our DUI Lawyers in Stephens County Today

There is no time to waste if you have been charged with DUI in Stephens County. Call our skilled Stephens County DUI Attorneys today to protect your rights, freedom, and future. Our office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call. Contact us today.