Norcross DUI Lawyer

Norcross DUI Lawyer - Norcross DUI Attorney

Experienced Norcross DUI Defense

Attorney Richard Lawson has more than 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI Law and has focused his career on defending the rights of those accused of DUI. While the State of Georgia takes a tough stance against drivers charged with driving under the influence, there are options. Sometimes there is an issue with the DUI charge. Our Norcross DUI Lawyers work with a team of experts and have extensive information on field sobriety tests. Leveraging our knowledge of DUI rules and law enforcement, we craft aggressive, yet innovative defenses for our clients. Please see our reviews on Avvo and contact us for a free consultation.

30-Day Warning!

If you were arrested for DUI in Norcross (or anywhere in Gwinnett County), you only have thirty days to save your license from suspension. You (or your Norcross DUI Attorney) must file an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing request or a request for an ignition interlock device or your driver's license will automatically be suspended. If you refused the breath, blood, or urine test, your license would automatically be suspended for one year, with no possibility of a permit. There is no time to lose. Contact an experienced Norcross DUI Lawyer right away.

DUI Penalties

You might be under the impression that DUI charges happen often, and therefore, the penalties are not severe. Georgia, however, has strict laws against this offense. The penalties are serious, leaving a long-lasting impact on an individual's personal and professional life.

Driving badly does not equate to driving under the influence. People who are not drunk may exhibit the same driving characteristics as someone who is. Law enforcement is trained using manuals from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At the Law Offices of Richard Lawson, our Norcross DUI Attorneys will cross-examine them using their own training materials.

At the Law Office of Richard Lawson, our Norcross DUI Lawyers have more than twenty years' experience defending clients against a range of DUI-related offenses. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are equipped and prepared to represent individuals throughout the state. Before attempting to make the unfortunate mistake of trying to represent yourself in court, call our office for a free no-obligation consultation.

Georgia DUI penalties are:

First Offense: First offense punishments can include a year of probation; a fine of up to $1000; 1-10 days in jail; community service; license suspension; alcohol/drug counseling/treatment; and DUI School.
Second Offense: Second offense punishments can include 1-3 years' probation; fines of up to $1000; 90 days to one year in jail; 240 hours of community service; at least a 1-year license suspension; an ignition interlock device; surrendering of license plate; mandatory alcohol and drug counseling/treatment; and publication of your photo in your local newspaper at your expense.
Third Offense: Third offense punishments can include 1-3 years' probation; 120 days to 12 months in jail; a fine of up to $5000; 240 hours of community service; a 5-year license suspension; license plate surrender; court-supervised mandatory alcohol/drug treatment/counseling; publication of your photo in the local newspaper at your expense; and being declared a habitual violator.
Fourth Offense: Fourth offense punishments can include 5 years in prison; mandatory jail time of at least 90 days to a year; 10-year license suspension; fine of up to $5000; 480 hours of community service; surrender of license plate; court-supervised alcohol/drug counseling/treatment; publication of photo in the local newspaper at your expense; and a felony conviction that will follow you for the remainder of your life.

*All of the above penalties can be increased if you have a child(ren) in your car. Also, if you refuse to consent to the State's chemical test, you can face other consequences. You have too much at stake. That is why it is crucial to hire a skilled Norcross DUI Lawyer.

What is Georgia's Implied Consent Law?

Like Georgia, many states have implied consent laws. Basically, implied consent means that when you apply for and receive your driver's license, you are giving your consent to chemical testing of your breath, blood, or urine to determine if you have any alcohol or drugs in your system if you are arrested for driving under the influence. If you refuse to be tested, you are revoking your consent, and essentially breaking the promise you made when you received your license.

If you refuse to submit to a chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine in Georgia, your license will be suspended for one year. The suspension will be a “hard suspension,” meaning you will not be eligible for a restricted permit to drive.

Challenging Field Sobriety Tests

Police officers have many tools at their disposal to keep Georgia's roads safe. Unfortunately, those tools can be unreliable or judged subjectively. NHTSA admits that standard and non-standard field sobriety testing is difficult to perform even when a person is completely sober. Law enforcement and prosecutors almost swear the results of such testing is sure indicator of impairment. However, they are most certainly not.

Judges and juries must be educated on the facts of field sobriety testing. A lot of juries just want to know test results to come to a verdict. A seasoned Norcross DUI Attorney must overcome that misinformation and present factual evidence to defend your Norcross DUI case.

Testing is Not Perfect

There are three activities that generally make up field sobriety testing: the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), the Walk-and-Turn, and the One-leg Stand. These tests were made to measure balance, concentration, and physical control. Unfortunately, these tests present many challenges in administration and measurement of impairment. Challenges include:

Law enforcement failed to perform the test correctly. NHTSA has particular guidelines for administering field sobriety tests. Also, the three tests previously mentioned are only the tests that are standardized. If a police officer asks a motorist to recite the alphabet backward, or other such test might have their testimony challenged in court by a competent Norcross DUI Lawyer.
Law enforcement failed to take into consideration a driver's mental or physical condition. For example, testing for imbalance can become irrelevant if the driver has an inner ear infection. A past brain injury can impact the HGN test. Also, physical disabilities or other movement disorders can lead o faulty results if these challenges are not recognized.

While these are just some of the most common field sobriety testing challenges, the unique facts of your case can result in a more effective defense. Do not wait to speak with a Norcross DUI Attorney today.

Norcross Municipal Court Information

Norcross Municipal Court handles citations of those charged with city ordinance and traffic violations. The Municipal Court is located at 65 Lawrenceville Street, Norcross, GA 30071. The Honorable Kenneth E. Wickham is the Municipal Court Judge, and Joy Williams is the Chief Clerk. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM. Contact (770) 448-2173 for more information.

Map to Norcross Municipal Court

Exceeding Client Expectations

At the Law Office of Richard Lawson, our Norcross DUI Lawyers are dedicated to providing sensible and effective legal assistance and passionate advocacy while putting our clients first. We have Norcross DUI Attorneys who are committed to making difficult situations easier for our clients by giving them customer service that is first-class. We will explain the complete legal process as well as all available options. After listening to their concerns and goals, we tailor our legal advice to accommodate their unique needs. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your convenience. Call us today to begin your best defense.

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