Forsyth County Obtains Funding for New DUI HEAT Unit

Forsyth County DUI Lawyer - Forsyth County DUI Attorney

The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety has awarded the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office $69,800 in funding as a H.E.A.T. grant.  The H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) project includes twenty-two Georgia counties and aims to reduce impaired driving crashes, injuries and fatalities, reduce excessive speeding and aggressive driving, increase the usage of safety belts, and educate the public about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Your Forsyth County DUI Lawyer understands the policies of the H.E.A.T units throughout Georgia.

“Agencies like the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office that have received this 2013 G.O.H.S. H.E.A.T. grant are committed members of the G.O.H.S. Traffic Enforcement Network, dedicated to protecting our citizens from drunk drivers. Impaired driving is no accident and DUI is no victimless crime. We know from experience that H.E.A.T. Teams like the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office are an effective way to maximize our deterrent efforts with impaired drivers," said G.O.H.S. Director Harris Blackwood in a news release.

The Forsyth County DUI H.E.A.T. Unit will join other Georgia county units in year-round sobriety checkpoints designed to identify impaired drivers, which means an increase in DUI arrests. It means the implementation of DUI Roadblocks and DUI Checkpoints throughout Forsyth County Georgia.

Forsyth County State Court handles most DUI charges in the county.  State Court holds criminal arraignments on Fridays at 8:30am.  At arraignment, you will be formally charged with DUI and go before the judge to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty to the charges against you. If you plead guilty, you will be sentenced right then and there.  If you plead not guilty, you will receive a new court date.  Important motions must be filed within days of your arraignment to ensure your defenses are preserved which means it is essential to have the representation of a Forsyth County DUI Attorney prior to your first court date.

Your next court appearance will likely be a calendar call. Calendar calls are used to schedule trial dates and allows the judge to get a status update on each of the cases on his calendar.  Forsyth County GA also schedules a priority calendar call date, which falls on the Wednesday before your trial week. Your DUI Lawyer in Forsyth County will appear for you at both appearances.

At and in between your court appearances, your DUI Attorney in Forsyth County will be meeting with the prosecutor to negotiate a plea offer on your behalf.  If acceptable terms cannot be reached, your case will proceed to trial.  In Forsyth County, you can have either a bench trial or a jury trial.  A jury trial is heard by six (6) jurors, while a bench trial is decides solely by the judge.  The decision to have a Jury Trial or Bench trial should only be made after consulting with your DUI Attorney in Forsyth County GA.

Forsyth County prosecutes DUI charges forcefully and imposes severe consequences that can have a significant impact on your ability to work, attend school, and especially your finances.  A DUI Lawyer in Forsyth County GA is essential to ensure you receive fair treatment and that your case is assessed for any improper procedural issues and potential defenses.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Forsyth County Georgia, contact DUI Lawyer Richard Lawson today.  Our office is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  This includes nights and weekends.  Call now.  Your Best Forsyth County DUI Defense Begins Here.