Palmetto Georgia DUI Lawyer

Palmetto DUI Lawyer - Palmetto DUI Attorney

Experienced Palmetto GA DUI Lawyer

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a legal defense firm solely dedicated to DUI Defense. Richard Lawson is a former prosecutor with over 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI law. Please check out his reviews on Avvo and you will see why he is Georgia's top-rated DUI Lawyer. Contact us for a free consultation.

30-Day Warning!

If you were arrested for DUI in Palmetto GA or anywhere in Fulton County, you only have thirty days from the date of your arrest to save your driving privilege. You (or your Palmetto GA DUI Lawyer) must file an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing. The cost to file is $150, and if it is not done within the thirty-day timeframe, your license will automatically 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 opportunity for a permit. Do not wait to contact a DUI Lawyer in Palmetto GA today!

DUI Trouble in Palmetto GA? We Can Help.

Many people choose not to fight their DUI charges because they assume guilt because law enforcement, breath test, or even another attorney told them they are guilty. Many innocent individuals are made to believe their case is hopeless. Breath testing machines and the people who operate them are not infallible. That allows our Palmetto GA DUI Attorneys to present the best defense for you. Your best defense begins with us.

The Palmetto Georgia DUI Lawyers with the Law Office of Richard Lawson are devoted to providing the best defense to individuals arrested for DUI, DUI Drugs, Vehicular Homicide, and any other DUI-related offense. If you, a family member or friend has been arrested for DUI in Palmetto Georgia, you can probably guess the consequences are harsh. Our Palmetto DUI Attorneys have earned a reputation for providing the best and most effective legal representation. Our success comes by recognizing our clients are people; not just profits or problems. We get advanced DUI Defense training a keep our clients informed about their case every step of the way.

What are the penalties for DUI in Georgia?

First Offense

Possibly one year in jail
Fine up to $1000 (minimum $300)
Driver's license suspended for one year
Minimum 40 hours of community service
$210 fee to reinstate driver's license
Restricted license for at least 120 days

Second Offense (within 5 years of first offense)

Mandatory minimum of 72 hours in jail (possibly 90 days – one year)
Fine of up to $1000 (minimum of $600)
License suspension of three years
Minimum 30 days of community service
Minimum 4 months no driving, without a permit of any kind
$210 fee to reinstate driver's license
Mandatory alcohol/substance abuse evaluation
Completion of substance abuse treatment program if indicated, at offender's expense

Third Offense (within 5 years of second offense

Mandatory minimum of 15 days in jail (possibly 120 days - one year)
Fine of up to $5000 (minimum of $1000)
License revoked for five years with the possibility of a permit after 2 years
Mandatory minimum 30 days of community service
Violator has to pay for their name, photo and address in the local newspaper
Declared a habitual violator and vehicle license plate seized
Mandatory clinical evaluation (at the offender's expense) and completion of substance abuse treatment if indicated

Be sure to speak with a Palmetto GA DUI Attorney as soon as possible after any DUI-related arrest.

I followed the guidelines of one drink per hour. Why did I fail the breath test?

As soon as it enters the mouth, alcohol begins absorbing into the bloodstream. However, most alcohol is absorbed through the small intestine. Unless the alcohol has gone through your small intestine and into your bloodstream, it is not into your system enough to affect you or your blood alcohol content (BAC). Alcohol must go through your stomach via digestion before it can get to your small intestine.

There are many factors that can affect the rate that alcohol is absorbed into your system, as well as the rate your BAC rises or lowers. Food that is especially high in starch and fat slows the transfer of alcohol from the stomach to the small intestine. Digestive problems can cause different absorption rates. If you are in shock (say, from an accident), your absorption can b slowed. If absorption is slowed for any reason, alcohol on an empty stomach could mean you have many drinks hitting you at one time without the benefit of having any of them eliminated from your system.

The usual guide of one drink per hour can be a bit misleading, since it does not consider the alcohol content of a particular beverage, how much the drinker weighs, or their gender. The guideline is based on a one-ounce shot of 86 proof alcohol or a twelve-ounce beer. If you are drinking stronger liquor, malt beverage, or a mixed drink with more than one shot of alcohol, you will obviously fall outside the guideline. The size of the drink is also a big deal: a 16-ounce glass filled with half alcohol and half cola is the same as six 1-ounce shots of the same beverage.

How long before the alcohol leaves my system?

The average alcohol elimination rate is .015 per hour. That rate varies, but .015 is the average accepted rate of elimination. However, keep in mind, alcohol must be absorbed before it can be eliminated.

Palmetto GA Municipal Court

Palmetto Georgia Municipal Court is located at 401 Carlton Road, Palmetto, GA 30268. The Honorable Judge Russell T. Ross is the Chief Judge, and Aretha Huff is the Chief Clerk. Patrick Stough is the City Solicitor. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Call (770) 463-9068 for more information.

Map to Palmetto GA Municipal Court

Palmetto GA DUI Defense

You have been charged with DUI in Palmetto Georgia and you are worried about losing your hard-earned money, your driver's license, your job, and your freedom. That is a lot at stake, so why trust your case to an inexperienced DUI Attorney in Palmetto GA? The Law Office of Richard Lawson has Palmetto GA DUI Lawyers waiting to discuss your case now; waiting to contact a reputable Palmetto DUI Attorney will not make things better. Call now.

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

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