Catoosa County DUI Lawyer - Catoosa County DUI Attorney
If you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Catoosa County, an attorney from the Law Office of Richard Lawson can help protect your rights. We are experienced and passionate about DUI defense representation and hold our practice to a high standard of both legal professionalism and effectiveness. Since our beginning over 25 years ago, we have protected the rights of the accused in more than 4,900 DUI cases. Being arrested does not mean you are guilty. Richard Lawson is a Former DUI Prosecutor, who has devoted his career to DUI Defense in Catoosa County and throughout Georgia. We are the top-rated and most reviewed Catoosa County DUI Attorneys.  Our reviews can be found on Avvo. Our office has devoted Catoosa County DUI Lawyers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us now. Â
Catoosa County 30-Day Warning!
If you have been arrested for DUI in Catoosa County, you only have thirty days from the date of your arrest to appeal the automatic suspension of your driver's license. There is a $150 filing fee charged by the State of Georgia to file the appeal. Saving your license is the first step in your DUI Defense. Without the ALS Hearing or an ignition interlock device, your license cannot be saved. You will lose your license. In the case of a refusal, the suspension will be for 12 months.
As Catoosa County DUI defense experts, we are dedicated to understanding the tools, techniques, and science used by Law Enforcement to detect and ultimately prosecute DUI cases. Armed with this knowledge, we can use the weaknesses of these techniques to defend against problems with probable cause, field sobriety tests, chemical sobriety tests, and evidence processing to name a few. Also, Law Enforcement Officers that are over-zealous, inadequately trained, or inexperienced will often make mistakes leading to an improper DUI arrest. The Law Office of Richard Lawson can protect your rights. We never assume guilt.  There are always alternatives and potential Georgia DUI Defenses. We will leave no stone unturned. When you call our office, you will be immediately connected to an experienced Catoosa County DUI Lawyer. You should not have to wait to speak to a Catoosa County DUI Attorney. Your problems deserve immediate legal attention. Our website is also a source of 24-hour Georgia DUI Information.
Catoosa County DUI Defense
Whether you realize it or not, DUI does not only refer to driving under the influence of alcohol; it can also refer to driving under the influence of either illegal or prescription drugs.  Richard Lawson wrote the book on Georgia DUI Drug Defense and Georgia DUI Prescription Drug Defense. He is the top-rated Catoosa County DUI Attorney. Being the Top-rated Catoosa County DUI Lawyer means that we put the interests of our clients first. It also means picking up the phone when you need it most. It means that care and compassion are our first order. It also means your can speak to a Catoosa County DUI Attorney any time you need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You are one call away from speaking to a DUI Lawyer in Catoosa County. A DUI Attorney in Catoosa County is here to serve you and your best interests.
In the State of Georgia, you do not need to be impaired to be arrested for drugged driving. A vast majority of drug-related DUI arrests involve marijuana. Individuals can be arrested even if they are not driving while impaired by marijuana.  Why?  Many Georgia Prosecutors charge people with DUI as a result of driving with any traceable amount of an illegal drug in your system.  The law does not consider that marijuana stays detectable in blood and urine tests long after impairment has worn off. You can still be charged with DUI. However being charged does not mean you are guilty. Our experts can determine if the metabolites in your blood are impairing your ability to drive. Insofar as Prescription Drug DUI, our experts can determine if your medication was taken correctly, and as a result, within the correct therapeutic levels. That can make the difference between guilt and innocence.
At first, the per se law may seem like a reasonable guideline; but in reality, this law allows people to be arrested, charged and convicted of DUI when they are not presenting a danger to themselves or others by driving impaired. Catoosa County Police Officers and Georgia State Patrol Officers (GSP) often assume impairment with the mention of prescription drugs or the combination of prescription drugs. These assumptions are baseless and not scientifically accurate.
Other Possible Defenses in your Catoosa County DUI Case:
The additional complexities with probable cause, evidence collection, and processing in drugged driving arrests are prone to errors that can result in you being falsely accused. The Law Office of Richard Lawson is experienced in finding these mistakes and will ensure your rights as a defendant are protected. We always look at the articulable suspicion to stop you or the roadblock to determine if the stop or roadside checkpoint was corrected implemented. We also look at any underlining traffic offense (that resulted in your DUI) to see if it occurred. Without the related offenses to the DUI, your DUI arrest would be invalid.
ALS HEARINGS: HELP GETTING YOUR LICENSE REINSTATED
Your license will be automatically suspended after police arrest you under the suspicion of impaired driving. You only have 30 days to request a hearing or your license will be suspended up to one year. Fortunately, you may be able to get your driver's license reinstated at an administrative license suspension hearing (ALS Hearing). At the hearing, you may present a case in your favor demonstrating that you need your driver's license, and it should not have been suspended. In a typical ALS hearing, a variety of determinations will be made. For example, the hearing will discuss whether or not the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to suspect you for driving under the influence.
Additionally, the hearing may determine if you caused an accident, injury or death while driving impaired and whether or not you submitted to a blood or breath test. Although you may represent yourself at an ALS hearing, having an aggressive attorney fighting for your rights is the most successful way to have your license reinstated. At the firm, our Catoosa County DUI Lawyers have a broad understanding of the DUI legal system and can help you understand your rights and legal circumstances so you can enter your hearing fully prepared.
CATOOSA COUNTY DUI PRACTICE AREAS:
In Georgia, there are many types of DUI. In fact, DUI is a general term that may refer to any number of impaired driving offenses. For example, a standard intoxicated while driving offense may be charged as a misdemeanor, while an injury-related DUI arrest may result in felony charges. Vehicular homicide is the most serious DUI offense. Generally speaking, vehicular homicide refers to the crime of unlawfully killing another person while driving under the influence. To be convicted, the prosecution must demonstrate that you drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and your DUI was responsible for the death of another person. Serious Injury by Vehicle is also an extremely serious offense.
The Law Office of Richard Lawson handles all types of DUI cases, regardless of the severity of the charge. You need an experienced and aggressive DUI attorney to protect your rights, especially with severe charges that can lead to lengthy jail time. We are experienced Catoosa County DUI Attorneys, familiar with all the courts in Catoosa County including:
- Catoosa County Probate Court – Catoosa County DUI Lawyer
- Catoosa County Superior Court – Catoosa County DUI Attorney
- Ringgold Municipal Court – Ringgold DUI Lawyer
- Fort Oglethorpe Municipal Court – Fort Oglethorpe DUI Lawyer
- Indian Springs Municipal Court – Indian Springs DUI Lawyer
- Lakeview Municipal Court – Lakeview DUI Lawyer
- Tunnel Hill Municipal Court – Tunnel Hill DUI Lawyer
EXPERIENCED PLEA BARGAINING
Sometimes it is in your best interest to plead guilty if the prosecution has a great deal of evidence against you. With the help of an experienced attorney, you may be able to negotiate a favorable plea bargain.  A plea bargain refers to an agreement between the defense and prosecution in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty if the prosecution charges them with a lesser offense.  For example, in exchange for a guilty plea, the prosecution may decide to charge you with the lesser offense of reckless driving instead of DUI. That can result in lesser penalties including insurance rate increases, fines, and even jail time.
We Can Help You - Call Now For Your Best DUI Defense
The Law Office of Richard Lawson is highly experienced in plea bargain negotiations.  Without a respected attorney by your side, the prosecution may assume you are going to plead guilty and not offer you a favorable bargain.  Without an experienced defense attorney, you may not be able to understand the strength of the prosecution's case to negotiate the most favorable plea bargain. If you've been accused of DUI and don't know where to turn, talk with a lawyer from the Law Office of Richard Lawson to schedule a free case evaluation. Your case will not defend itself. You need an experienced DUI Attorney in Catoosa County to fight for your rights. An experienced DUI Lawyer in Catoosa County is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That includes nights, weekends, and holidays.  Call a DUI Attorney in Catoosa County Georgia today. A DUI Lawyer in Catoosa County GA is here to help. We never rest until you have had your best DUI Defense in Catoosa County.
Our Attorneys
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Richard Lawson
Managing Partner at Lawson & Berry:
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Kimberly A. Berry
Partner at Lawson & Berry:
Map to Catoosa County Courthouse
Catoosa County DUI Resources
