Laurens County DUI Lawyer - Laurens County DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for DUI in Laurens County, Georgia, you need to have a DUI Attorney that knows the local area and the court system. A DUI in Georgia can have serious consequences and it is important that you understand your rights and what punishments you are facing. In Laurens County, some of the DUI penalties include probation, loss of driver's license, jail, community service, and up to $1000 in fines, not including court costs. However, a DUI conviction extends beyond the jail time and fines. Having a DUI on your record can make it difficult to find a job among other things.

Richard Lawson is a former DUI prosecutor with more than 25 years of experience fighting for clients throughout Georgia. He is the most reviewed lawyer on Georgia and his reviews can be found on Avvo. Richard's experience and knowledge of DUI law is just one of the reasons why he is the top-rated authority on Georgia DUI Laws and DUI Defenses.

DUI 30-Day Warning!

If you are arrested for DUI in Laurens County, you only have thirty days from the date of your arrest to save your driver's license. You must have a Laurens County DUI Attorney file a request for a hearing or install an ignition interlock device before the 30 days are up! Unless this hearing is requested, you will lose your Georgia driving license potentially up to 12 months.

Georgia DUI License Suspension - The 30 Day Letter

The State of Georgia expects drivers to abide by certain rules and regulations when they issue a person their driver's license.  Remember, your ability to drive in Georgia is a privilege, not a right, and can be taken from someone who violates State DUI laws.  A license suspension for DUI will be automatic if a hearing is not requested in a timely manner.

The officer that arrests you for DUI actually has two cases against you: a criminal court case as well as an DDS case.  To save your driver's license, you must file a request for a hearing within thirty days or else your license will be automatically suspended. The State of Georgia requires a $150 fee to set the ALS hearing.  Let an experienced Laurens County DUI Attorney protect your ability to drive in Georgia.

If a hearing is not requested before the 30-day deadline, an automatic license suspension will occur.  If you refused testing of breath, blood, or urine, you will experience an automatic suspension of ONE YEAR, with no chance of getting a restricted license or permit.  If you DID submit to testing during your DUI investigation, you could only have a 30-day license suspension.  You could be eligible for a limited permit or restricted license that would let you drive to and from work or school.  A second license suspension, however, could mean a license suspension much longer than 30 days.

Many people do not understand that this hearing is completely separate from the DUI process that will proceed in Court. Our experienced Laurens County DUI Lawyers will deal with the stress of the ALS hearing for you by appearing in court on your behalf. There is no need for you to miss work or arrange childcare.

We Can Help

Despite the grim and depressing picture painted above, the likelihood of you avoiding a DUI conviction is pretty good with the help of our Laurens County DUI Attorneys. However, the most beneficial thing you can do is contact us from the very beginning. Just like any criminal case, fast action and early intervention helps preserve evidence that could be used on your behalf and potentially mitigate some of the efforts the prosecutor is using to gather evidence to convict you.

How the DUI Process Works in Laurens County

There are many steps in a Laurens County DUI case. When you call one of our experienced DUI Lawyers in Georgia, we will walk you through the entire process and answer all of your questions. If you choose us to represent you, your Laurens County DUI case will likely proceed as follows:

• Arraignment- This is your first court appearance after the arrest. The court has to formally read the charges against you and you are able to plead guilty or not guilty. If you have already hired a Laurens County DUI Attorney, they will appear on your behalf so you don't have to.
• Discovery- The discovery period is when our attorneys will ask the prosecution for all the evidence the state has against you. They are required to turn over all the evidence they have against you.
• Evaluation- During this part of the case, your lawyer will began investigating every piece of evidence we have. That includes interviewing witnesses, going through the police reports, watching the video of the arrest, and evaluating the chemical results. We spend hours looking through the evidence to discuss the weaknesses in the state's case against you.
• Pre-Trial Conference- The pre-trial conference is usually the next court date after arraignment. This is a chance to meet with the judge and prosecutor and go over the status of the case. At this time, the Court encourages both parties to decide whether a trial will be necessary or if there is a possibility of resolution.
• Filing and Arguing Motions- Motions are an important of your Laurens County DUI case. There are many motions that can be used to suppress damaging evidence against you or to exclude the chemical and field sobriety tests from being admitted at trial. The use of motions depends upon the specific details of your case.
• Negotiating with the Prosecution- After motions, your Laurens County DUI Attorney will go to the prosecutor and explain why your charges should be dismissed or reduced due to the flaws in your case. Sometimes, they agree to dismiss your case or we are able to reach an agreement where the charges are reduced. However, there are times when prosecutors refuse to budge and we are forced to take your case to trial. We are always prepared to take cases to trial and have an excellent record in achieving the desired result at trial.
• Trial- If your cannot be resolved through negotiations with the prosecutor, it will go to trial. Choosing to go to trial is a decision that must be carefully evaluated. There are many factors to consider and our DUI Lawyers in Laurens County will help you weigh your options. No matter what option you choose, we guarantee that you will receive the best DUI Defense!

Laurens County Court System

If you were arrested for a DUI in Laurens County, where you were arrested determines which court has jurisdiction over your case. If your arrest occurs within the limits of Dublin or East Dublin, then you case would start in that city's municipal court.

Dublin Municipal Court

DUI and traffic violation tickets that occur in Dublin will go before Dublin Municipal Court. The Judge for Dublin Municipal Court is the Honorable Harold D. McLendon. Court is held at 100 South Church Street, Dublin, Georgia 31021. For any questions about your ticket or other court information, call (478)-277-5088.

Map to Dublin Municipal Court

East Dublin Municipal Court

Cases that involve misdemeanor traffic violations, shoplifting, and city ordinance violations occurring in East Dublin will go before East Dublin Municipal Court. Judge Charles C. Butler presides over East Dublin Municipal Court. The Court is located at 119 Soperton Avenue, East Dublin, Georgia 31027. For any questions about your ticket or other court information, call (229)-272-6883.

Map to East Dublin Municipal Court

Laurens County Probate Court

Laurens County Probate Court prosecutes misdemeanors and traffic violations that occur in Laurens County but outside of the City Limits of Dublin and East Dublin. Judge Helen Harper Jr. presides over Laurens County Probate Court. Probate Court is held at 101 North Jefferson Street, Dublin, Georgia 31021. For information about your ticket or other court information call (478)-272-2566.

If you would like a jury trial, your case will be bound over to Laurens County Superior Court.

Map to Laurens County Probate Court

Laurens County Superior Court

Lauren's County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all felony DUI cases. Additionally, if you are charged with a misdemeanor or traffic violation but request a jury trial, you will be transferred to Laurens County Superior Court.

Laurens County is part of the Dublin Judicial Circuit. There are three judges on the circuit that rotate through Johnson, Laurens, Treutien, and Twiggs County. The Superior Court Judges are: 

Chief Superior Court Judge

Hon. H. Gibbs Flanders

(478)-272-0061

Superior Court Judge

Hon. Donald W. Gillis

(478)-275-7715

Superior Court Judge

Hon. John F. Helton

(478)-272-4131

For other superior court information, call the Clerk of Superior Court, Jackie Dalton, at (478)-272-3210. The Superior Court is located at 101 North Jefferson Street, Dublin, Georgia 31021.

The Chief Prosecuting Officer for Laurens County Superior Court is the District Attorney's Office. The District Attorney is Craig Fraser. His contact information is as follows:

PO Box 2029

Dublin, Georgia 31040

Phone: (478)-272-0440

Fax: (478)-272-0559

Map to Laurens County Superior Court

Time is of the Essence if Arrested for DUI in Laurens County

Call now and speak with one of our Laurens County DUI Attorneys to schedule a free consultation. Our Attorneys are highly knowledgeable and will assist you in formulating the best possible defense for your case. We will walk you through every step of the process, and we are dedicated to being accessible to you- days, nights, weekends, and holidays while working hard on your behalf. Your future is at stake, so don't wait to contact us for a free case evaluation.