City of Baldwin GA DUI Lawyer – City of Baldwin GA DUI Attorney

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a legal firm entirely dedicated to defending the rights of those accused of DUI. Richard Lawson is a former Georgia DUI Prosecutor with over 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI law. Put that experience to work for you. But first, check out his reviews on Avvo and you will see why he is the state's top-rated DUI lawyer. Contact our office for a hassle-free, no-obligation case evaluation.

30-Day Warning!

If you have been arrested for DUI in Baldwin GA, or elsewhere in Banks County, you need legal help right away to keep your driver's license. You or your Baldwin GA DUI Lawyer must file what is called an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing request within thirty days of your arrest or you can choose to install an ignition interlock device. The cost to file is $150. If the ALS hearing or the decision to use an interlock device is not requested within the thirty-day timeframe, your Georgia driver's license will be suspended for up to one year. No decision should be made before consulting with a Baldwin DUI Attorney. 

If you have been accused of refusing the State's chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine, your Georgia driver's license will be suspended for one full year with no limited permit or early reinstatement. When you need a DUI Lawyer in Baldwin GA, look no further than the Law Office of Richard Lawson.

10 Things to Do After a DUI Arrest

An arrest for DUI can be stressful for anyone. If you have gotten out of jail and are awaiting your court date, there are particular steps you should take to make sure you have your best chance of a favorable outcome in your Baldwin GA DUI case. As a Baldwin Georgia DUI Attorney, Richard Lawson can effectively advise you on the proper way to handle your situation and create a solid defense strategy.

• Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. It is best not to give law enforcement any additional information they can use against you.
• As soon as you are able, write down everything you ate or drank before your DUI stop. This information will come in handy when challenging breath or blood test results.
• If you can, get receipts for any food or alcohol you purchased and consumed before your arrest. They can also assist in establishing a timetable on how “drunk” you were at the time you were arrested.
• Contact the Law Office of Richard Lawson for a free case evaluation and discuss the particular circumstances so one of our Baldwin Georgia DUI Lawyers can craft a defense for you.
• Do you suffer from Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or other heartburn condition? People with these circumstances frequently get false readings during chemical breath tests. Check with your doctor, if necessary.  

Different Ways to Fight a DUI Charge

1. Challenge Whether Your DUI Stop Was Legal: Law enforcement cannot pull you over just because they “feel like it.” Rather, they must have reasonable, articulable suspicion that you have committed (or have been involved in) a crime or criminal activity. If that standard is met, police have the right to detain you (briefly) to complete a preliminary investigation. If you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, an investigation may include field sobriety testing and other methods to determine if there is probable cause to arrest you.
2. Dispute Law Enforcement's Suspicion of DUI: During a DUI investigation, an officer will be carefully observing your appearance and behavior. He or she might notice the odor of drugs or alcohol, red or bloodshot eyes, impaired speech, and poor motor skills. These are just the things that will likely be included in your arrest report. However, these traits are not always related to alcohol or drug consumption. A Baldwin Georgia DUI Lawyer will investigate any medical conditions you might have or any medications you take that could seem like alcohol use.
3. Challenge Field Sobriety Tests: Police often use field sobriety tests as a way to identify intoxicated drivers. The issue is that these “tests” have been proven time and again to be poor indicators of whether a person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A competent Baldwin Georgia DUI Attorney will have many strategies for challenging field sobriety testing.
4. Challenge Breath Test Results: Law enforcement officers administer field sobriety tests to determine if a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. If an officer believes that to be the case, a breath test is then administered to evaluate their blood alcohol content (BAC). Breath tests can be just as flawed as the field sobriety tests given by police officers.
5. Challenge Blood Test Results: Blood tests for BAC are usually given after an arrest for DUI has been made. These tests are typically done at a medical facility or the police station. Blood tests are considered to be the most reliable BAC test available to police to detect drunk drivers. The alleged offender has a sample of blood taken and tested in a lab setting. While blood testing is more reliable than other testing methods; errors are possible, and can lead to false positive results.
6. Challenge the Legality of the DUI Roadblock: DUI roadblocks/checkpoints are controversial in the US. There are many legal cases that contest whether they are constitutional and infringe on the rights outlined in the Fourth Amendment. While the Supreme Court has upheld the legality of roadblocks, the guidelines for them are clear. If these guidelines are not followed during a DUI stop, it may be possible for it to be deemed illegal.
7. You Were Not Mirandized: Miranda rights are afforded to each and every American under the law. Anyone in police custody must be informed of their right not to incriminate themselves, that whatever they say or do can be used against them, and that they have a right to an attorney. It is law enforcement's legal obligation to inform persons of these rights whenever an arrest is made. If a person is not advised of their Miranda rights, any evidence collected during the DUI investigation may be ruled as inadmissible in court.
8. Failure to Advise of Implied Consent Warning: Georgia's implied consent law requires that drivers suspected of DUI consent to a chemical test of breath, blood, or urine, or risk having their license suspended. An officer may request this test if they think there is probable cause that a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The key word here is request; the officer cannot coerce, force, or threaten anyone to take a chemical test. If an officer acted inappropriately during your DUI arrest or failed to issue the implied consent warning, your chemical test results may be deemed inadmissible.
9. Police Misconduct: It is against the law for police to single out minorities, and that includes DUI stops. Even though police claims fairness, profiling, unfortunately, often occurs throughout the country. Showing a DUI stop was raced-based could compromise the officer's testimony and motives in every aspect of the case. For example, an officer's report of the driver being intoxicated may have been overblown.
10. Make a “Rising BAC” Argument: A lot of people do not know how long it takes the body to absorb alcohol. Obviously, each person is different, but the body's peak BAC is not reached until 30-90 minutes after alcohol is consumed. That is because alcohol is absorbed mainly through the small intestine, and for the blood stream to take the alcohol through the body takes time. That fact can be crucial in a DUI case. If you were arrested for DUI after a breath test showed a BAC of .08 or more, it is possible to show that even though a person was over the limit when they were arrested, they might not have been at the time they were driving. Your Baldwin GA DUI Lawyer may be able to prove the alcohol from your last drink may not have yet entered your bloodstream.
    
    

Baldwin GA Municipal Court

Baldwin Municipal Court is responsible for handling all city ordinance and traffic violations that occur within the City of Baldwin. The Honorable Robert Sneed is the Municipal Court Judge, and Susan Newsome is the Chief Clerk of Court. Court is held at 155 Willingham Avenue, Baldwin, GA 30511. Please call (706) 776-5256 for more information. 

Map of Baldwin GA Municipal Court

Seek the Legal Advice You Need After a DUI Arrest

DUI penalties are severe, and the stakes are high. Fortunately for you, there are many ways to build a strong defense against a City of Baldwin GA DUI charge. Building a solid case isn't a piece of cake, however, and it is smart to enlist the services of an experienced Baldwin GA DUI Attorney from the Law Office of Richard Lawson. 

Getting the best outcome for a Baldwin Georgia DUI charge requires full knowledge of Georgia DUI law, access to experienced investigative resources, and the skill for presenting arguments before a judge or jury. People who are not involved in the legal profession have no information on how to do any of it. A seasoned Baldwin GA DUI Lawyer, however, will know right away the best defense to use based on the unique circumstances of your DUI arrest.

Why not take every possible measure to avoid a Baldwin GA DUI conviction when professional legal help is so close at hand? Contact our office today to discuss your case with a Baldwin GA DUI Attorney from the Law Office of Richard Lawson.

Baldwin GA DUI Resources 

Baldwin GA Police Department 

Banks County GA Sheriff's Department 

Banks County GA Probate Court

Banks County GA Clerk of Superior Court

Banks County GA Public Library 

Wikipedia of Baldwin Georgia

Have You Been Arrested for DUI in Baldwin Georgia?