CANON DUI LAWYER - CANON DUI ATTORNEY

Lawson and Berry is the leading DUI Defense firm in Georgia. Our founder, Richard Lawson, has over 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI law. Richard along with our other attorneys have dedicated themselves to DUI defense. Their dediciation to clients is unmatched. Call now and see why Lawson and Berry will make all the difference in your case.

30 Day Warning

When charged with a DUI, you only have 30 days to save your driver's license from being suspended. You have two options to save your license: request an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing or install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. It is best to consult with an experienced Canon DUI Lawyer before making this decision. A failure to take action within 30 days will result in an automatic suspension of your driver's license.

Additional Costs Of A DUI Conviction in Canon

Many people are unaware of the non-judicial penalties a DUI conviction can incur. Fines and jail time are typical punishments, but the consequences of DUI conviction extend far beyond that. Some of the non-judicial costs of a DUI include:

Travel: Some countries, including Canada, will not allow people who have been convicted of a DUI to enter. This may sound extreme, but we have seen this happen even to those charged with a DUI. Canada has full access to United States criminal records and will run a background check on you. When a DUI charge or conviction is revealed, you will either not be let in or will be forced to return to the US if it is discovered after. This is a significant problem for those who travel to Canada for business because there is not a business exemption. However, you will not be allowed in for vacation or fishing either. Canada is not the only country with this rule, so having a DUI conviction on your record can make travel difficult.

School: If you receive an underage DUI and are applying for college, most universities take a serious look at criminal records. You may be denied admission because of that charge. In other cases, scholarship or grant eligibility may be greatly diminished, and existing scholarships can be taken away for DUI convictions. If you were over 21 and are thinking of going back to school, a DUI conviction can still have an impact. It can make it difficult to be accepted or to obtain scholarships.

Employment: Even though DUI charges are relatively common, that does mean employers have thoroughly accepted them. Most employers run background checks on employees. If you are in the transportation industry, a DUI conviction is generally a serious matter. We have seen people lose their jobs because of a DUI conviction. This does not just apply to drivers with CDL licenses either. It applies to people who have company cars, pizza delivery drivers, bus drivers, and does not matter if the DUI was received off the job.

Furthermore, if you have a job that requires you to drive, a license suspension could still cost you your job. Some DUI charges or convictions come with a license suspension (even as little as 30 days). Not having a license could prevent you from doing your job and possibly result in termination.

Ignition Interlock Device: You have the option to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle to avoid the automatic suspension of your license. However, after a second DUI conviction, the ignition interlock device is mandatory. The device typically costs $150 upfront plus a $75.00 a month in addition to any maintenance expenses. It is important to weigh these costs when trying to decide between installing the device or filing for an ALS hearing.

Incidental Expenses: Other than the court fines and surcharges, there are additional expenses that can quickly add up. One example is if convicted of DUI, or participating in a diversion program, a judge may require that you participate in a drug and alcohol risk reduction course. These courts cost $355.00. If you receive probation, you will be required to pay a monthly monitoring fee and pay for random urine or blood tests. If your license is suspended, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee. There are numerous expenses other than court costs that can make a DUI expensive.

Car Rental: Most car rental companies run driver's license checks on prospective customers in an effort to minimize their losses. If you have a DUI or multiple traffic violations on your driving record, it can make it difficult to rent a vehicle.

Car Insurance: A DUI on your driving record could double or triple your insurance premiums. Some insurance companies will drop you as a customer and refused to insure you if you have a DUI or multiple other traffic violations. This will force your insurance to become very expensive but also force you to choose lesser insurance companies to insure you.

Let our Canon DUI Lawyers Help You

You may not have been aware of all the extra costs associated with a DUI charge. That is where we come in! We are intimately familiar with the judicial and non-judicial costs of a DUI and want to help you avoid these costs. Because of our experience, we can estimate your costs of pleading guilty versus entering into a pre-trial diversion program or pleading guilty to reckless driving. There will be no surprises in your case if you choose us. Our Cannon DUI Attorneys have over 50 combined years of DUI experience. We want to make that experience work for you. We have relationships with the prosecutors, judges, and clerks in Franklin County and know what to expect at each step in your case.

The Canon DUI Lawyers at Lawson and Berry will carefully craft strong DUI defenses that attack every aspect of the state's case against you. We will make sure your rights, freedom, and future are protected!

Canon Municipal Court

If you were arrested for DUI within Canon city limits, your case will proceed to Canon Municipal Court. The Honorable Doug Kid presides over the Court. Court is held third Monday of every other month. The Court is held at Cannon City Hall located 5071 Hwy 17, Canon, GA 30520. For information about the Court, call (706) 245-8155.

Map to Canon Municipal Court

Contact Us

Lawson and Berry is Georgia's premier DUI Defense firm. We only practice DUI law and dedicate ourselves to help driver's fight a DUI charge. We stay up to date on law changes, new case developments, and frequently attend DUI trainings to learn how to continue present the best defenses for our clients. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.