Hapeville DUI Lawyer - Hapeville DUI Attorney
Who We Are
Richard Lawson is a former Georgia DUI prosecutor with over 25 years' experience in DUI law. The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a legal defense firm that is exclusively devoted to DUI Defense. We are the top-rated DUI defense firm in Georgia, as rated by Avvo. Please check out our reviews and contact us for a hassle-free, obligation-free consultation and case evaluation.
30-Day Warning!
If you were arrested in Hapeville or elsewhere in Fulton County, you (or your Hapeville DUI Lawyer) should file a request for an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing or an igntion interlock device. This hearing or device can save your driver's license from suspension and must be done within thirty days of your arrest date. If the hearing or device request is not made, your license will automatically be suspended. The filing fee is $150. If you are accused of refusing the breath, blood, or urine test, your license will be suspended for one year with no opportunity for a permit.
DUI arrests are life-changing. Here is some information about how a DUI investigation goes in regard to field sobriety testing:
Can I refuse a field sobriety test?
Certainly. You have the right to refuse field sobriety testing just as you have the right to refuse roadside breath testing.
Refusing makes your case a bit harder to fight because there is no observation of you not being impaired. If you do submit to field sobriety testing, you risk the possibility of seeming impaired based on the officer's observation. However, field sobriety testing is also an opportunity to show that you were not impaired. By refusing to perform them, you are taking away a solid defense that an experienced Hapeville DUI Attorney might be able to use.
Are field sobriety tests fair?
People tend to feel like they did reasonably well on not looking impaired performing field sobriety tests. The problem is, the tests are hard to perform and have to be adequately administered. Many times on police video you will see they were improperly conducted, leading to inaccurate signs of impairment. The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test or eye test looks for involuntary jerking movement in a person's eyes. Many things can create a false positive such as testing in front of a police car or behind your vehicle after getting pulled over. Many times law enforcement forget and leave on their front-facing flashing blue lights. Flashing lights can create the same eye jerkiness that is caused by alcohol and make you seem impaired when you are not.
The walk-and-turn test is where you take 9-10 steps down a straight line, turn, and walk back. Police are looking for 112 signs of impairment, and if you get 110 things right, they can still say you were impaired. There are many things that can go wrong with this test.
The last “standard” field sobriety test is the one-leg stand. The one-leg stand is a relatively acceptable test if it is done (and administered) correctly. Our Hapeville DUI Attorneys know the difference.
The Affects of a DUI Stop
When most people are pulled over for suspicion of DUI, emotions run high. People have hyperventilated or had an asthma attack due to stress or just simply had a mental meltdown.
Police often say, “If you had nothing to hide, you would not be nervous.” That is easy for them to say, they are not having an anxiety attack due to having to prove themselves sober. Of course, stress plays a part in the performance of field sobriety testing. Officers say they take a driver's stress under consideration but are still going to make up their mind the same way. That is why you need an experienced Hapeville DUI Attorney.
Finish What You Start
Let's say you decide to submit to field sobriety testing and decide, halfway through, that it is stupid, and you do not want to complete it. Well, the officer will then testify that you refused midway through the test. That can look negatively upon you in court. There is no difference whether or not you refuse or quit halfway; either way, you are more than likely going to be put under arrest.
DUI Penalties
Georgia DUI laws and penalties are complex and ever-changing. As one would expect, the punishments significantly increase for every additional DUI offense that is on your record. Some of the penalties are:
- jail
- probation
- fines
- driver's license suspension
- alcohol/drug treatment
- and more
Hapeville Municipal Court
Hapeville Municipal Court is located at the Hapeville Police Department at 700 Doug Davis Drive, Hapeville, GA 30354. The Honorable Monica Ewing is the Chief Judge, and Lisa Brownlee is the Clerk of Court. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM. For more information about Hapeville Municipal Court, call (404) 669-2149.
Hapeville Municipal Court Rules
- Court clerks cannot give legal advice
- Judge Ewing will only speak with defendants on their court dates
- Proper courtroom attire is required. Showing up for court dressed inappropriately could delay your hearing
- No small children are allowed in the courtroom
- No food, drink, or cellular phones allowed in courtroom
- Everyone is subject to search prior to being admitted into the courtroom
Defendants are allowed to reset their case only once. Additional resets have to have a verifiable medical reason, and must be approved by the judge. If a defendant has requested a bench trial (trial by judge), the court date can only be reset by the judge.
Map to Hapeville Municipal Court
Experienced Hapeville DUI Defense
If you have come to our website, you more than likely need a DUI Lawyer in Hapeville and understand the seriousness of the charges against you. You could be looking at time in jail, expensive fines, and a driver's license suspension. Also, there's the potential impact on your employment, family, and reputation. If you are concerned, as you very well should be about how a DUI can affect you, you need the most qualified Hapeville DUI Attorney representing you. Contact the Law Office of Richard Lawson today to speak with a DUI Lawyer in Hapeville about your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Holidays too. Do not wait; your best defense begins with us.
Our Attorneys
-
Richard Lawson
Managing Partner at Lawson & Berry:
-
Kimberly A. Berry
Partner at Lawson & Berry:
Hapeville DUI Resources
Fulton County Sheriff's Department
Fulton County Solicitor General
Fulton County District Attorney
Administrative Office of the Courts
Wikipedia of Hapeville Georgia
