Are You Under the Age of 21 and Charged with DUI, MIP (Minor in Possession of Alcohol), Speeding, or Possession of Marijuana?

If so, you will need to hire an experienced Georgia DUI Attorney as soon as possible:

The rules are different if you are under the age of 21. The outcome of your case will affect the rest of your life, and as a result, your case needs to be taken seriously because the outcome cannot be changed or expunged later in life.

Many young people call our office and have not told their parents of the arrest or citation.  This is an understandable error in judgment.  We understand that your parents are not going to be happy; however, they will be even less happy when they find out later, and they WILL FIND OUT.  Your parents love and care about your well-being.  Please tell them when they can still help.

The First and Most Important Issue With Underage DUI in Georgia:

When you are 17 years old, you are an adult for criminal law purposes in Georgia. The biggest mistake made by young people is the assumption that later on a criminal arrest or conviction can be removed from their record.  Our office receives calls every day from people asking about expungements or having their record sealed from an arrest and conviction from when they were in their teens and even early 20's.  These calls are quite frankly heartbreaking.

The problem is that in Georgia, you cannot have your record sealed or expunged if you are convicted of a crime or plead guilty.  I will say it another way to be 100% clear; the outcome of your case is a final judgment and can NEVER BE CHANGED LATER ON.   As a result, it is imperative to get the best possible outcome while the case is pending because there is no way to go back and fix it later.

The best way to do that is to get the parents involved right away.  It is difficult to disappoint parents (and make them angry), but when a young person has been charged with a crime, they need their help to hire a lawyer.  Without the financial support of parents, it is unlikely a young person can afford a lawyer.  It is as simple as that.

Many offenses such as underage possession of alcohol (MIP), possession of marijuana, and some DUI cases can be kept off a young person's criminal record if properly handled.  Additionally, even in cases where there are no defenses, a qualified Atlanta DUI Lawyer can help minimize the impact on a person's life, such as by reducing the time a person's license is suspended or getting the underlying traffic offenses dismissed.

Our Experience is the Difference:

Georgia DUI Lawyers Richard Lawson and Kimberly Berry have been trained to handle youthful offenders and their unique concerns.

Richard Lawson has been trained to handle cases of youthful offenders and their unique concerns.  Richard was a former DUI prosecutor as well as Juvenile Court prosecutor.  For more than 25 years he has defended the rights of young people charged with crimes in Georgia.  He is the top-rated defense attorney in Georgia with hundreds of reviews on Avvo.

Kimberly Berry was previously a Georgia Public Defender, and one of her assignments was Georgia Juvenile Defense.  She has defended hundreds of young people charged with crimes in Georgia, including drivers under the age of 21.  She is a “Superb – 10” rated attorney on Avvo and widely respected by her peers.

The Offenses That Should Concern Under 21 Drivers Include:

• Speeding - receiving 4 total points before age 18
• Speeding - receiving a 4 point or more offense between ages 18-21
• DUI
• Reckless Driving
• Racing
• Fleeing and eluding
• Aggressive Driving
• Illegally Passing a school bus
• Hit and Run
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident
• Possession of Marijuana in Georgia
• Minor in Possession of Alcohol - MIP
• Violation of Probation
• Failure to Maintain Lane
• Following too Closely
• Open Container
• Obstruction of a Police Officer
• Driving on a Suspended License
• Car Accidents

Those are just some of the criminal and/or traffic offenses that should cause concern for under 21 year-old drivers.  That is why when a young person is charged with any criminal or traffic offense, they should always take it seriously and tell their parents.  Protect your future.  Life does not give you a "do over.”

There is Hope:

Contact us today for a free consultation.  We are happy to have a lawyer speak to you, and we are always happy to talk to parents as well.  Our advice is for you to tell your parents about your legal issues as soon as possible.  We are here to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and even holidays.  You only have 30 days to protect your privilege to drive and to appeal the automatic suspension of your driver's license.  Call am Atlanta DUI Attorney Now!