Hart County DUI Lawyer

Hart County DUI Lawyer – Hart County DUI Attorney

Hartwell GA DUI Lawyer – Hartwell GA DUI Attorney

Former DUI Prosecutor

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a recognized defense firm with each Hart County DUI Attorney practicing DUI exclusively. Richard Lawson is a former Georgia DUI prosecutor with over twenty five years' experience. Richard has received the highest possible ratings and reviews from Avvo and has assembled a stellar team of highly skilled and experienced Hart County DUI Lawyers to represent you in your Hart County DUI case. Contact us today to discuss your case.

Hart County DUI Defense

A driver's unusual driving is most of the time what causes a police officer to suspect them of DUI and pull them over. Often, that is the first piece of evidence given to the jury. If the officer did not witness the suspect's driving, witness statements, and circumstantial inference becomes "evidence." One can expect that to happen whenever there has been a car accident and the officer arrives on the scene.

Many prosecutors would concur that the most significant evidence given is the officer's testimony of observing the defendant's driving. However, a good DUI Defense Attorney would say the blood alcohol level (BAC) is the most crucial evidence; followed by field sobriety test results. The types of evidence are:

Driving
Appearance and Behavior
Field Sobriety Tests
Chemical test of breath, blood, or urine
Refusal of the chemical test

30-Day Warning!

If you were arrested for DUI in Hart County, you only have thirty days to file an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing request or a request for an ignition interlock device to be installed to prevent your license from suspension. You (or your Hart County DUI Lawyer) have to file the request and pay the $150 filing fee. If the hearing is not requested, your license will be suspended. If you refused the State's chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine, your license will be suspended for one year with no chance for a permit. Your DUI Attorney in Hart County will handle your criminal case as well as your ALS Hearing. You can expect unparalleled customer service from the Law Office of Richard Lawson.

Breath Testing

Breath testing machines have many faults. The way they analyze air that is blown into it is unreliable. Your Hart County DUI Attorney can attack the test results because they understand the weaknesses of breath testing machines entirely.

One of the major flaws in several methods of blood-alcohol testing is the problem of identifying ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) while excluding all other chemicals. A DUI client could have other chemicals in their body, but no alcohol, and still have a high BAC reading.

The problem of not being able to separate alcohol from other chemicals is most evident with today's breath testing machines. They often give false readings because they cannot separate alcohol in the blood from other chemicals. They only detect the methyl group and not the ethyl alcohol compound. There are many chemicals that belong to the methyl group but are not ethyl alcohol:

Rubbing alcohol
Propane
Propylene
Acetic Acid
Ethyl chloride
Butane

Some common things that can give inaccurate, high readings with a breath test:

Diabetes
Weight loss diets
Fasting
Smoking (long-term smokers have higher BAC due to acetaldehyde)
Inhaling paint or glue fumes
Unleaded gasoline (swallowed)
Various bread products

Many breath mints or fresheners contain tiny amounts of alcohol, and can affect breath-testing results due to residual mouth alcohol. Over-the-counter cough medicines such as Nyquil have alcohol in them and can also affect test results. Hiccupping, burping or vomiting can affect test results; as can acid reflux.

Hart County BUI Lawyer

BUI or Boating Under the Influence can occur in a lake, river, or ocean. Operating any watercraft under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of over .08 (or drugs) is very similar to operating a car while under the influence: it is illegal in the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources does not forbid drivers of a boat or its passengers from consuming alcoholic beverages or possessing open containers. Other than this, getting a BUI is the same as getting a DUI.

Imagine you are on beautiful Lake Hartwell in your boat, having a good time and enjoying drinks with friends. What could you do to end up being suspected of BUI? Here are some possibilities:

Speeding
Violating the right-of-way
Violations regarding equipment, such as life jackets or lights
Registration is not visible (or current)
Operating (driving) the boat erratically

Law enforcement procedures usually include preliminary questions, field sobriety tests, or the chemical test of breath, blood, or urine. Choose a competent Hart County BUI Lawyer to handle your case.

*It is important to note here that any prior offense may be considered for the enhancement of punishment. However, prior DUIs must be considered. The consequences of second offenses are harsher than those of a first.

How to Find the Best Hart County DUI Attorney

Locating and selecting a Hart County DUI Attorney to represent your Hart County DUI case can prove to be difficult. There is no shortage of inexperienced, incompetent, or just unethical lawyers who have no problem taking on DUI cases. However, when you need a Hart County DUI Lawyer, ask any potential attorney about the following questions:

DUI is a highly specialized (and technical) field of law. Do they handle other cases besides DUI and DUI-related cases?
Do they have access to expert witnesses?
Do they promise a particular outcome just to get hired? No ethical attorney would do that, as results are often unpredictable.
Are fees explained entirely and in a written contract? What do the fees include? Are there any "extras?"
What kind of ratings/reviews does the lawyer/law firm have? (the highest rating with Avvo is 10.0 or "Superb").
Did the potential Hart County DUI Lawyer graduate from a reputable school of law?
Does the potential attorney have any complaints with the Georgia State Bar? Any past disciplinary actions taken against them?

UNDERSTANDING THE HART COUNTY COURT SYSTEM

Where you were arrested determines which court would have jurisdiction over your case. If you were arrested for misdemeanor DUI within the limits of a city or municipality, your case would be heard in that city or municipality's court.

Hartwell Municipal Court

If your misdemeanor DUI arrest occurred in Hartwell, GA, you need a Hartwell Georgia DUI Lawyer to defend you in the Municipal Court of Hartwell. The Honorable Francis J. George, Jr. is the Municipal Court Judge, and Renae D. Pierce is the Chief Clerk. Court is held at 500 E Howell Street, Hartwell, Georgia 30643. Call (706) 376-7189 for more information.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Hartwell, Georgia, waste no time in finding a DUI Lawyer in Hartwell GA.

Hart County Probate Court

If you were arrested for misdemeanor DUI in an unincorporated area of Hart County, your case would be heard in Hart County Probate Court. The Honorable Merry Kirk is the Probate Judge. Court is held at the Hart County Courthouse Annex at 185 West Franklin Street, Hartwell, Georgia 30643. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Call (706) 376-2565. If you want to exercise your right to a jury trial, your case would be bound over to Hart County Superior Court.

Hart County Superior Court

Superior Court has jurisdiction over all felony cases. Frankie Gray is the Clerk of Court and may be reached by calling (706) 376-7189. Court is held at 185 West Franklin Street, Hartwell, Georgia 30643. There are three judges who preside over cases:

Honorable John H. Bailey, Jr.
Chief Judge, Superior Courts
Northern Judicial Circuit
P.O. Box 645
Elberton, Georgia 30635
Telephone Number - (706)283-2046
Ms. Pam Anderson - Judge's Assistant

Honorable Jeffery S. Malcom
Judge, Superior Courts
Northern Judicial Circuit
P.O. Box 709
Carnesville, Georgia 30521
Telephone Number - (706)384-4377
Ms. Joyce Baskins - Judge's Assistant

Honorable Thomas L. Hodges
Judge, Superior Courts
Northern Judicial Circuit
P.O. Box 950
Hartwell, Georgia 30643
Telephone Number - (706)376-7151
Ms. Tina Moore - Judge's Assistant

The Chief Prosecuting Officer for Superior Court is the District Attorney's Office. The District Attorney for Hart County Superior Court is:

Parks White
District Attorney
Hart County Superior Court
155 North Carolina Street (Old Jail)
Hartwell, Georgia 30643
(706) 376-3128

Ready to Fight for Your Rights

Getting arrested and charged with DUI in Hart County is stressful. Our office offers a free consultation to anyone charged with DUI or any DUI-related offense. We are an experienced DUI Defense firm that is dedicated to giving you the attention your Hart County DUI case deserves. When you need a DUI Lawyer in Hart County, look no further than our skilled DUI Lawyers in Hart County.

Contact the Law Office of Richard Lawson today to begin your best defense with a Hart County DUI Attorney.

Recent Case Results

This case was in Helen Municipal Court. The client was charged with a DUI and four counts of DUI Child Endangerment. In Georgia, for every child under the age of 14 in a vehicle it is considered a separate DUI offense. The client would have been declared an habitual violator from one arrest an... Read On
Client was charged with a suspended license because he did not reinstate his privilege to drive after the expiration of his restricted license. Per my advice, the client properly reinstated his license the day after he was charged. Case Dismissed in Cobb County State Court. Read On
Client was a resident of New York who was arrested while he was visiting Georgia for pleasure. He was charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Speeding 37 MPH over the speed limit. We were able to get the client an unbelievable outcome in Hampton, Georgia. His DUI dismissed, his speeding ticket wa... Read On

Recommendations

DUI WITH HIGH BAC (.112) LOWERED TO RECKLESS DRIVING!

Richard was not the first lawyer I spoke with after my DUI charge, but he was the last when searching for representation. This was my very first time encountering any sort of legal dispute so I had no idea what I was doing and I was very scared. Richard was very friendly, down to earth and consol... Read On
Miracle Worker!

Not only did Richard Lawson and his very capable associate get my DUI reduced to reckless driving with parole, but he did something that I didn't think was possible. I was stopped for a moving violation recently. The police arrested me because they showed my driver's license had been suspended. H... Read On
Ideal attorney for anyone

Mr. Lawson is outstanding. He was professional, attentive to any requests, and got the outcome I wanted but thought was unachievable. I had been arrested for a DUI. The case was very difficult, intricate, and was seemingly without hope, but Mr. Lawson was able to get the charges drastically reduc... Read On