What Are the First Things You Should Do If You Have Been Arrested for a DUI in Georgia

Saving Yourself From Unnecessary Complications After a Georgia DUI Arrest:

To begin with, this article assumes that the reader has already been released on bond.  For more information on bond and bail in jail, please consult that section of our website.  See, Bond and Bail in Georgia.

If you have been arrested for a DUI anywhere in Georgia, there are five critical steps you must take immediately.

• Confirm your arraignment date:  Several courts require a court appearance the next business day.  Most have the arraignment within three to five weeks.  Check both the date on your bonding paperwork and compare it to any date written on the bottom of your tickets.  If the dates are not the same, then you need to check with the court clerk.  Also, check each citation separately because sometimes the tickets (wrongly) have different court dates.   
• Also, your paperwork may list the court date as “TBN” (to be notified) or “TBD” (to be determined).  If so, make sure the address on your tickets and bond is correct.  Your date will be mailed to the address they have on file.  If your address is listed incorrectly, make sure the clerk of court has the correct address.
• Secure your documents:  Our simple advice is to make a photocopy of everything you have been provided, and then place the originals in a Ziploc bag.  You will need these documents later, and your Georgia DUI Attorney needs legible copies.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been hired by someone who has either lost or destroyed his or her court-related paperwork.  When documents are lost, you are at risk for missing a court date or filing deadline. 
• Secure your job: Your employer may be more concerned about your arrest than you realize.  He or she may be worried that someone arrested for DUI may miss additional time at work or may even lose their transportation to work.  Make sure you speak to you employer and alleviate any of your employer's concerns.  Most of our clients will not miss additional work or lose their transportation for a first-time DUI arrest in Georgia.   
• Begin researching lawyers:  There are many online avenues where you can research the best Georgia DUI Attorney.  Once you narrow your search begin interviewing prospective attorneys. Remember, the best Georgia DUI Lawyers schedule their court appearances several weeks in advance.  You will lose the chance to hire the attorney of your choice if you wait until the last moment to call.  
• Make sure a 30-day letter is filed: You only have thirty calendar days to file an appeal with the Georgia Department of Driver Services.  If this deadline is missed, you may lose your driver's license for up to a year.  Your Georgia DUI Lawyer will file it for you.  For more information on Georgia ALS hearings, view that section of our website. 

Following these simple rules will make sure you get the best possible outcome in your case.  If we can help, call us seven days a week.