A DUI conviction in Georgia can have life-altering consequences. If you are charged with driving under the influence, you need an experienced Coffee County DUI attorney to help you understand your rights. Douglas criminal defense lawyer George McCranie is well-versed in Georgia DUI law, and help you develop a solid defense strategy.
What Are the Consequences of DUI in Georgia?
In Georgia, a DUI conviction means facing the following penalties:
- a criminal record
- jail time
- license suspension
- probation
- DUI school
- community service
- higher auto insurance rates
George McCranie has helped many clients with all aspects of Georgia DUI charges, and can examine your case to see which elements apply.
Challenging DUI Blood Tests
If you took a blood test and results showed that your BAC was .08 or higher, your Coffee County DUI attorney can challenge the test results. Sometimes, law enforcement officers do not administer the test according to protocol, which affects the accuracy of the results. Certain medical conditions can affect results as well. Hiring a seasoned Douglas criminal defense lawyer who is well aware of these factors can change the game.
Challenging DUI Breath Tests
Likewise, if you took a breath test and results showed that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .08 or higher, your Coffee County DUI attorney can still help you fight the charges against you.
In order for a breath test to be accurate, the breathalyzer used by law enforcement must be maintained, calibrated, and administered properly. There are other factors involved as well. A breathalyzer can only measure the amount of alcohol on your breath. Therefore, if you ate any food prior to taking the test, this could prevent the device from measuring the alcohol level accurately.
Your Douglas criminal defense lawyer can take into consideration the facts of your case and challenge or even overturn your DUI charges.
Multiple DUI Convictions
If this is not your first DUI, and you were already convicted of a DUI in the last five years, a Coffee County DUI attorney becomes even more important. Punishment in Georgia for multiple convictions is more severe, and you could be facing:
- A minimum of 72 hours in jail
- A minimum of 240 hours of community service
- A license suspension that will last for three years (as well as a 12-month wait to receive a work permit and 18-month wait for reinstatement)
- Confiscation of all family license plates
Your Douglas criminal defense lawyer can assist you with an administrative hearing, and determine whether to seek a plea bargain or go to trial.
Underage DUI
A single drink can cause a young driver to be charged with DUI. In Georgia, receiving a breath or blood test of .02 is enough to sustain a conviction.
A DUI conviction will remain on a young person’s criminal history for their life. This could potentially ruin their future education and employment prospects. Coffee County DUI attorney George McCranie can help you fight these charges.
Drug-Related DUI
The state of Georgia treats driving under the influence of drugs similarly to the way it treats driving under the influence of alcohol. However, the prosecutor must also be able to prove that you were driving in an unsafe manner (and that this was caused by drug use).
Your experienced Douglas criminal defense lawyer can work with the prosecution to negotiate a reduced sentence and lesser charges — or even get the case dismissed.
Speak to a Coffee County DUI Attorney Today
If you have been pulled over and charged with a DUI in Georgia, you need to act quickly. In Georgia, you only have 10 days before your driver’s license gets suspended. Don’t delay in calling Douglas criminal defense lawyer George McCranie to help you with your case. Call our office today at 912-384-2889.