Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer – Sugar Hill DUI Attorney
The Best in Sugar Hill DUI Defense
The Law Office of Richard Lawson is unlike other law forms you have come across in your quest for the best DUI Attorney in Sugar Hill. Richard Lawson is a former Georgia prosecutor and has over 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI Law. Our office only handles cases in the area of drunk driving law. Please see our Avvo reviews and contact our office 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a free, no-obligation consultation.
30-Day Warning!
If you were arrested for DUI in Sugar Hill, you only have thirty days to save our license from suspension. To do so, you (or your Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer) must file an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing request or a request for an ignition interlock device. The filing fee is $150. If this request is not filed or filed within the thirty-day timeframe, your Georgia driver's license will be suspended. If you have been accused of refusing the State's chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine, your Georgia driver's license will be suspended for one year with no chance for a restricted permit.
An Arrest Does Not mean a Conviction
The Sugar Hill DUI Attorneys with the Law Office of Richard Lawson are dedicated to defending individuals who have been accused of DUI by the State of Georgia. If you do not fight for your constitutional rights, no one will; especially the government. A DUI conviction can devastate you financially, emotionally, and socially. However, an arrest does not mean you are guilty. If you choose to fight your Sugar Hill DUI case, your arrest might not ever become a conviction!
A DUI case is unlike any other alleged crime. In Georgia, it involves ever-changing DUI laws, scientific testing of breath/blood, and field sobriety testing. There are no other DUI Attorneys in Sugar Hill that possess the unique skills of the Sugar Hill DUI Lawyers with the Law Office of Richard Lawson. These special skills are crucial for your Sugar Hill DUI Attorney to defend your Sugar Hill DUI case properly.
What to Expect
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Sugar Hill, you are probably scared, confused, and anxious—all natural emotions following a DUI arrest. Sometimes the experience of an arrest is do overwhelming that an individual seems frozen with fear, not knowing what to do next. People who have never had any involvement with the criminal justice system have strong feelings of anxiety over what is going to happen. Many have no idea what to expect and imagine the worst possible scenario or think it will be easy just like they see on television shows. We want to give you this information so that you will know more about what to expect throughout the stages of your Sugar Hill DUI case. The Sugar Hill DUI Lawyers with the Law Offices of Richard Lawson answer questions every day for our clients. If you need a DUI Lawyer in Sugar Hill, let our Sugar Hill DUI Attorneys help you.
There are important dates coming up and sometimes faster than you realize. Therefore, you need an experienced Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer from the very start of your case, so nothing is overlooked. Keep in mind, your DUI attorney is your voice in the criminal justice system, so choose carefully.
Court Dates
The citation you received from the arresting officer will have your court date on it. It will tell you when and where to appear in court. That is your arraignment date. On this date, only “guilty” or “not guilty” pleas are accepted. If you choose to plead guilty at your arraignment, you will more than likely be sentenced immediately. Your case will come to a close, and you will then face the consequences of a DUI conviction. Many people think they cannot plead “not guilty” at arraignment and later plead “guilty.” They think doing so will make the judge upset. However, pleading “not guilty” at arraignment is a frequent occurrence; especially if a defendant has not had an opportunity to speak to a lawyer before their arraignment.
If you have spoken with family or friends regarding your Sugar Hill DUI or even other lawyers who do not practice DUI defense, you might have been advised just to plead guilty at the arraignment and get it over with. However, our Sugar Hill DUI Attorneys rarely give that advice, and we definitely would not give that advice if they hired our law firm to represent them. It would be foolish to do so at this stage of the case because you do not have all the information and evidence that the prosecution will use against you to get a conviction.
If you hire a Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer to represent your case, they will handle your arraignment and an initial plea for you, so you do not have to appear in court. When you are interviewing potential Sugar Hill DUI Attorneys, make sure to ask them if they are willing to take care of your first court date for you so you will not have to take time off from work or school.
Waiting and Waiting…
After you have chosen an attorney, most people start to become anxious about wanting their case to be resolved as quickly as possible. That is understandable, as anyone would want to put such an unfortunate event behind them and get on with their life. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system is not quick and easy. Documents and record have to be obtained from the court, police, and other agencies involved in your Sugar Hill DUI case. It takes awhile to get everything together. Evidence goes far beyond just the police report. Feel free to contact your Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer for any questions you may have during that time.
Court Appearance
If you are having a jury trial, as it gets closer, you may start to feel anxious and worrisome. That is common, especially if you have never been in trouble before. Be proactive with your case. Your attorney will be able to allay your fears as the trial nears. Be sure to keep track of your court appearance's date/time and the address of where court is held. Generally, your Sugar Hill DUI Lawyer should inform you of these things, but always be prepared.
On the date of your court appearance, it is advised for you to arrive early, dressed in business casual clothing. Suits or clothes one would wear to church are nice, but not mandatory. However, do not dress as if you are going to a barbecue or Walmart, either. There will be other attorneys there, so you will be there awhile.
Sugar Hill Municipal Court
Sugar Hill Municipal Court Is held at Sugar Hill City Hall located at 5039 West Broad Street, Sugar Hill, GA 30518. Kimberly B. Landers is the Chief Municipal Court Clerk and may be reached by calling (770) 945-6734. The Honorable Margaret Gettie Washburn is the Chief Judge, and Charles Barrett is the Associate Judge.
Map to Sugar Hill Municipal Court
Sugar Hill DUI Trouble? We Can Help
Many individuals feel as if they should just plead guilty because they assume they are because of an arrest, chemical test results, or an attorney told them there was no hope. Innocent people are led to believe that their case is a disaster and cannot be won. Let our Sugar Hill DUI Attorneys present your best defense. Call now.
Sugar Hill DUI Resources
City of Sugar Hill Public Safety
Gwinnett County Police Department
Administrative Office of the Courts
Gwinnett County District Attorney
Georgia Department of Driver Services
Wikipedia of Sugar Hill Georgia