When someone calls our office, he or she is speaking to Georgia DUI Specialists.  We only handle DUI cases and the cases associated with DUI (most minor traffic offenses, accidents, and any drugs found in a vehicle).   Most criminal defense attorneys handle all types of criminal offenses, includ...

One of the most difficult things to do is pass on bad news to our clients. I truly understand how much our clients depend on their Georgia DUI Defense Attorneys. Being Candid is Our Job: After we review the evidence in our client's cases, we go over it with our clients. At this point, we can gi...

Passing field sobriety testing is much harder than many people believe.  If you think you "passed" field sobriety testing, and were still arrested, you may not have done as well as you think, and that false belief is not your fault.  The tests are unfair, and many people feel that they have passe...

If you are waiting to call a Georgia DUI Lawyer until after you are convicted, it may be too late. There is very little an attorney can do to help if you have already pled guilty.  We frequently receive calls from those who pled guilty to a DUI or Hit and Run charge, and they are now facing the e...

Being a criminal defense attorney that focuses on Georgia DUI Cases does not exactly make me “Mr. Popular.” People often ask me why I choose this job.  The answer is that I feel people charged with committing a crime deserve an advocate.   The great Georgia's DUI Laws can be very unforgiving to...

The Georgia First Offender Act does not apply to DUI.  In fact, DUI is specifically listed as an offense where it does not apply.  This, of course, makes little sense because the First Offender Act applies to violent felony offenses, yet through the “wisdom” of our legislature it does not apply t...

The short answer is “yes;” however, through the representation of the skilled Georgia Juvenile DUI Lawyers at our office, we may be able to prevent that from appearing on our client's adult record. Herein Lies the Issue: Ordinarily, juvenile records are sealed.  As a result, young people get a ...

The issue of “Justification” is complicated insofar as a DUI in concerned.  Some criminal offenses can be excused because a person may be justified to break the law in order to protect themselves. The classic example is a self-defense argument.  We all have a right to use violence to defend ours...

It is critical to have an Atlanta DUI Lawyer that knows the procedures that are followed in the Atlanta Municipal Court.  Every court is different, and we have the experience and knowledge to help. When someone is arrested in Atlanta, they will have court the next business day.  Since more peopl...

For many people, renting a car is part of their daily lives.  For business travelers, it is essential.  The issue for most of our clients is that the police take their license at the time of the arrest.  When renting a car, people need to show their license at the rental counter.  Remember, you d...

No one wants to have an encounter with a police officer.  The best case scenario when interacting with the police is to walk away unscathed.  The worst case is to get a ticket or to be arrested.  Remembering the tips to avoid a bad encounter with the police will help you avoid more trouble than y...

What Happens if I Move Within Georgia? According to O.C.G.A. §40-5-33, you have 60 days to update your address when moving within Georgia. If you fail to update your address, you may be ticked if you are pulled over. In Georgia, the first name change during a renewal period is free. If you have ...

One of my pet peeves is when I see a Georgia bail bondsman rip off one of my clients or act in a dishonest way towards them. When we face the facts, bail bonding is a sleazy business.  There is no way around it.  People are in a difficult situation and need immediate help.  The result is that ba...

"Almost Never." In Georgia, there are three types of bail bonds; cash, property, and the use of a bonding company. A cash bond is the quickest way to bond someone out of jail.  Once the bail is set, you take that amount to the Sheriff's Office to release the accused. The money is not lost.  Onc...

The short answer is: “Yes;” however, it depends to which country you are traveling. You are free to travel anywhere within the United States, but it gets tricky when trying to travel out of the country. Virtually all countries consider any crime a reason to refuse to let you into their borders. I...

The Election is over.  If your candidate won, congratulations.  If your candidate did not win, remember that our country is bigger than any one president.  Our founders put into place checks and balances that prevent any one person from ruling over us. Also, most of the government we interact wi...

Many prospective clients assume that they need a DUI lawyer that lives in the community in which the arrest occurred.  There was a time when this may have been true.  In the modern practice of law, most attorneys appear in many different courts, and that experience is the true advantage. Our law...

Usually, No.  Unlike in a civil case, all criminal cases are resolved in court.  Even when the prosecutor dismisses a case, a judge must sign off on the dismissal.   For the most part, criminal defendants must eventually appear in court; however, a Georgia DUI Attorney can make many of the appear...

In most circumstances, the passenger in a vehicle is not responsible for the actions of a driver.  When a person is arrested for DUI, the police will determine if any other person is sober enough to drive.  If so, the police will release the vehicle to someone else able to drive, Otherwise, the ...

Keeping an Underage Possession of Alcohol Case off Your Record Georgia law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages. Minor in Possession of Alcohol (“MIP”) is a criminal offense that carries a maximum punishment of $300 fine and a 6-month jail sentenc...

We get several calls a week from someone accused of DUI while either waiting or sleeping in a parked automobile.  People will often tell me that ‘they cannot charge me with DUI when I was not driving.” To begin with, if a person has called me, they have already been charged with a DUI.  The ques...

1.  Is a nolo contendere the same as a conviction? Technically no.  A nolo plea is a way to close a case without admitting guilt.  When someone enters a no contest plea, they are choosing to remain silent as to his or her guilt or innocence in order to close a traffic case.  Unlike with a guilty...

Unless the accused needs to have a quick outcome of the case, usually for work-related purposes, a delay is an advantage to the defense in a criminal case.   F.I.R.D. Defense: Fired: In jurisdictions like Fulton County Georgia, it may take up to two years before a defendant has an arraignment ...

Can My Employer Fire Me in Georgia After a DUI Arrest? In Georgia, we are a “right to work” state.  That means that an employer can fire an employee for any reason, except for reasons that would amount to discrimination.  Under most circumstances, an employer can fire someone after a DUI Arrest ...

Many of the people misunderstand about how criminal histories work in Georgia.  The problem, in the context of a Georgia DUI, is that we have enhancements in punishment based on the number of DUI convictions a person has within a ten-year period.  As a result, people falsely assume that somehow D...