Pine Lake DUI Lawyer - Pine Lake DUI Attorney

Who We Are and What We Do

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a legal firm devoted entirely to DUI Defense. Attorney Richard Lawson is a former Georgia DUI prosecutor and has over 25 years' experience in DUI law. Please take a look at his reviews on Avvo and you will see that he is the top-rated DUI defense attorney in Georgia. Contact us for a free consultation.

30-Day Warning!

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Pine Lake, you have only thirty days to save your driver's license. You (or your Pine Lake DUI Lawyer) will have to file a request for an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing or request an ignition interlock device. The State of Georgia charges a $150 filing fee. If this is not done within thirty days, your license will be suspended. If you have been accused of refusing the breath, blood, or urine test, your license will be suspended for one year no opportunity for a permit.

DUI Myths

Many people who have been pulled over by the police have misconceptions about DUI or how to beat “The System.” Unfortunately, that kind of incorrect information is often perpetuated. People believe the stories they hear from family members and friends and that can result in adverse consequences. At the Law Office of Richard Lawson, our Pine Lake DUI Attorneys keep their clients informed of nothing but accurate information. Our clients have too much to lose to rely on rumors and untruths.

Here are some common misconceptions about DUI that have gone around for years:

Any Lawyer Can Handle a DUI Case

The truth is that many attorneys are incompetent in handling DUI cases. They do not have much experience and are not aware of the strategies the prosecution can use to obtain a conviction.

I Have Plenty of Time to Hire an Attorney

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI, you must act quickly to secure your rights and freedom. Also, your license will be automatically suspended if you (or your Pine Lake DUI Attorney) requests an Administrative License Suspension Hearing within thirty days of your arrest. One of our experienced Pine Lake DUI Lawyers can help you file your ALS Hearing request.

I Failed the Chemical Test, So I Should Just Plead Guilty

While it is true that the breath and blood tests can be used against you as evidence, a skilled Pine Lake DUI Lawyer will know exactly how to challenge any evidence against you. Your DUI Lawyer in Pine Lake can ask specific questions that can raise a reasonable doubt about test results. Was the breath-testing machine properly maintained? Was your blood draw handled correctly? These are just a couple of questions your Pine Lake DUI Attorney can ask.

I Heard You Can Fool the Breath Testing Machine

Some people have heard that breath testing machines can be tricked by putting metal or coins in their mouths. The truth is, nothing you put in your mouth can lower your blood alcohol content (BAC). However, there are some things, like breath freshener or mouthwash, that can actually raise your BAC.

Mistakes Some DUI Lawyers Make

Even though attorneys all go to law school to learn the laws applicable to a variety of legal areas, a large amount of skill comes from experience by being either a prosecutor or defense attorney. This practical experience is critical for DUI cases since they involve a lot of science in addition to knowing the basics of the law.

Experienced attorneys know that DUIs are the hardest to defend because they are so complicated. That is also why many lawyers make mistakes when they are attempting to protect clients. Those mistakes can hurt their clients by causing them to lose their driving privilege, pay hefty fines and fees, spend time in jail, and have their car insurance premiums increased. They can also make mistakes that could cause their client to lose their current job or future career opportunity.

Here are some common mistakes:

Assuming the Case is Hopeless

Richard Lawson has been practicing law for over 25 years and believes that assuming the case is hopeless and pleading guilty is the biggest mistake lawyers make when representing individuals charged with DUI.

Most attorneys give up on their clients' case after getting the results of the State's chemical test and advise them to plead guilty. What that attorney might not know is that those tests (and field sobriety tests) can be challenged.

You are probably asking yourself, “Is it more expensive to fight the charge than just to plead guilty?” Possibly, but there is a lot at stake, and winning your case is not impossible. In the end, it may cost much less than you think.

Choosing Not to Fight the License Suspension

Another mistake that lawyers commit is choosing not to fight the Administrative License Suspension (ALS) because they feel it is hard to win. 

Of course, ALS hearings can be won, and are often done so based on:

• The sample was not taken within two hours
• You burped and law enforcement did not restart the observation period
• You had chewing tobacco or something else in your mouth
• You were on the Atkins Diet
• You have diabetes
• You have false teeth
• You work in a place where you are exposed to solvents
• When your blood sample was drawn, alcohol was used

If you do not request an ALS Hearing, your attorney will not get to question the officer who arrested you. That is critical because it is best to question the officer as soon as possible before they are unable to recollect the events of your arrest accurately.

Pine Lake Court Information

Pine Lake Municipal Court is located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake, GA 30072. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, and Friday 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM. L'Erin Barnes Wiggins is the municipal court judge. Otanya Clarke is the Court Solicitor and Jennifer Cook is the Clerk of Court. For information about your case or other court information, call (404) 292-4250 or email [email protected].

Map to Pine Lake Municipal Court

There is Hope

If you have been arrested for DUI in Pine Lake GA or anywhere in DeKalb County, you probably do not know where to turn. You need an experienced DUI Attorney in Pine Lake to review your case. Our Pine Lake DUI Lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your convenience. Contact the Law Office of Richard Lawson right away to begin the process of getting your life back in order. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation, so you have absolutely zero to lose and everything to gain.

Pine Lake DUI Resources

Pine Lake Police Department

DeKalb County Police Department

Georgia State Patrol 

Administrative Office of the Courts

Wikipedia of Pine Lake Georgia

Have You Been Arrested For DUI in Pine Lake Georgia?