DUI Defense Lawyer Lawrenceville GA

Arrested For A DUI? You Need A Great DUI Attorney

There is no doubt that being convicted of a DUI in Georgia can have serious consequences- the least of which is jail time. If you are found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you are looking at the possibility of heavy fines, a license suspension, and imprisonment.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Georgia, hiring an experienced DUI defense attorney should be your next step. At Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP, DUI defense is one of our primary specialties, and Phil Pilgrim is the DUI lawyer who will always fight for your rights.

A Former Prosecutor Turned DUI Defense

Mr. Pilgrim worked as a prosecutor for years before moving over to the defense side of the courtroom. He has personally prosecuted more than 2,000 DUI cases.

No one ever wants a DUI, but if you’re ever charged with one, Phil Pilgrim is the best type of DUI lawyer to have. He has an intricate knowledge of how these cases are prosecuted and how to properly defend against these efforts. If anyone understands the flaws in the system that can be used for your benefit, it’s Phil Pilgrim.

We are located in Suwanee, but we represent clients from Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Dawson County. We have a strong success rate for successfully defending some of the most difficult cases. Our DUI lawyers have the experience, expertise, and skills needed to defend your case. Call us today for a free consultation.

Defining a DUI in Georgia: Less Safe and Per Se DUI

Law enforcement officers have two ways to assess if you have violated DUI laws in Georgia.

The first is by a police officer examination. An officer can administer a field sobriety test or simply assess through observation. You can be charged for DUI of alcohol or drugs if you show any manifestations of impairment. Driving mannerisms alongside observations made by an officer of the law can lead to a charge of DUI “less safe” when an officer does not administer a breath or blood test.

The second way you could be charged is by chemical analysis of blood, urine, or breath. A blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or any other illegal drug use while operating a vehicle can lead to a DUI charge. Since there is physical evidence that involves chemicals that could impair your driving, this is known as a DUI “Per Se.”

Common Field Sobriety Tests

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are three methods of standard for field sobriety tests. All police officers are trained to carry out all three tests.

Walk and Turn Evaluation

During this evaluation, an officer will have you take nine heel-to-toe steps forward, a turn, and nine steps back along a straight line. The officers will look for implications of suspected alcohol or drug influence. For example, losing balance, prematurely starting, taking more or fewer steps than instructed, stopping while walking, and stepping off-line, or making an improper turn, you can be charged with a DUI.

It’s important to understand what’s expected during this type of test so you can behave accordingly.

One Leg Stand Evaluation

The officer giving this test will instruct you to stand on one foot with the other foot held about six inches off the ground for 30 seconds. The officer also may ask you to count by the thousandths until you are told to put your foot down. Loss of balance or hopping can cause you to be charged with a DUI.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN)

This is another standardized field sobriety test used on a DUI suspect. You are asked to follow a stimulus with your eyes while the officer looks for an involuntary jerking movement of the eyeball. Some people however can have natural nystagmus if they have a concussion or other head and eye conditions. This fact makes the test only partially reliable, and less reliable if the officer administers the test incorrectly.

Our DUI attorneys can use any issues around how these tests were conducted to help defend your case.

Drugged Driving

You can also be charged with a DUI in the state of Georgia if you are driving while impaired by a substance other than alcohol, such as prescription medication, illegal drugs, or even over-the-counter substances such as cough syrups, pain relievers, inhalants, or cold or sleep medications. Any amount of marijuana or other controlled substance in your urine or blood, even if the substance is legally prescribed, can lead to legal prosecution. Learn more about drugged driving.

Can I Refuse A Field Sobriety Test?

Keep in mind, when you obtain a Georgia driver’s license, you have already implied consent by having a license in this state. Based on this, you cannot refuse an officer’s request to give you a field sobriety test.

If you do refuse, your license can be suspended for one year through Administrative License Suspension (ALS).

When Is A DUI A Felony In Georgia?

A DUI in Georgia has been considered a misdemeanor, but recently the law has been changed. If you are charged with a DUI four times in 10 years, you will be charged with a felony.

If a DUI is involved in an accident resulting in serious injury or death to a separate party, they will also be tried on felony charges.

Types of DUI Offenses in Georgia

DUI is always illegal, but in Georgia, as in other states, there are many different charges that may apply in your particular case, among them:

“Less Safe”

Georgia, unlike other states, has a law on the books allowing law enforcement to charge you with DUI even when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is below the legal limit of 0.08 percent. As long as the arresting officers can attest to the fact that they observed you [1] driving erratically after having consumed alcohol and/or drugs and [2] demonstrating impairment during field sobriety tests, they have sufficient evidence to illustrate that you were unable to drive your vehicle safely and may charge you with “Less Safe” DUI.

DUI “Per Se”

If you are pulled over by law enforcement officials and found, through a chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine, to have a BAC over the legal limit, you can be legally arrested for DUI.

In Georgia, such an arrest carries with it two separate penalties: criminal prosecution and license suspension. While the former will be handled by the Georgia criminal court system, the latter will be enforced by The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

The legal restriction of license suspension occurs under the law of “implied consent,” a phrase that means everyone who drives has implicitly consented to be tested for alcohol and/or drug impairment. The decisions arrived at by Georgia’s criminal courts and by the DDS are entirely separate and are not affected by one another.

DUI Charges Vary According to the Number of Offenses Committed

As one might expect, DUI, like other crimes, is considered more serious the more it is repeated. Therefore, the penalties become harsher with each offense you commit. There are increasingly higher fines and longer jail or prison sentences for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and subsequent offenses.
Penalties for DUI Offenses

You should be aware that DUI convictions stay on your driving record for the rest of your life and can lead to the following penalties:

Court costs and attorneys’ fee
DUI education or substance abuse treatment, including costs
Increasingly high fines
Ignition interlock devices
Jail time
License suspension or revocation
Limited driver’s permits
Probation

DUI convictions carry with them the possibility of severe penalties that may affect your life for a long time to come in terms of schooling, employment, military service, and background checks of all kinds. This is why it is essential to have the knowledge, skill, and support of one of the experienced DUI defense attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP on your team.

Variations in the BAC Limit

In addition to the exception to the BAC limit of 0.08 percent in cases of “Less Safe” DUI, there is another variation in the BAC limit made in regard to new drivers. In an attempt to protect young drivers from their own impulsivity and to keep them from getting into the potentially deadly habit of drinking and driving at an early age, Georgia’s “zero” tolerance policy sets the BAC limit for drivers under the age of 21 at 0.02 percent.

Commercial drivers also must adhere to a different standard than the drivers of automobiles. Because commercial drivers are on the road so much of the time, and because they drive much larger, heavier vehicles than the average driver, they are also held to a stricter standard. Since statistics show that truck accidents are much more likely to result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities, particularly to the drivers and passengers of cars involved in such collisions, the BAC for commercial drivers in Georgia has been set at 0.04 percent, half the typical legal limit.

Driving Privileges Can Be Restricted by Other Offenses

Driving is a privilege that may be restricted or withheld from you, not only as a result of a DUI conviction, but because of a conviction for possessing, distributing, or using marijuana or any other illegal or controlled substance. A significant fact that you should be aware of is that you can be charged with DUI even if you are not driving at the time of arrest. This can happen if you are intoxicated or high and simply sitting behind the wheel of the car; you needn’t be actually driving to be found to be in control of the car. As long as the keys are in your possession, law enforcement may assume that you were driving while impaired, or that you are about to engage in this illegal activity.

When DUI Becomes a Felony

While DUI is usually considered to be a misdemeanor, certain circumstances can turn your DUI into a felony offense. If this happens, you are in serious trouble and the assistance of a sharp DUI lawyer is absolutely vital. DUI offenses become felonies when:

DUI is your 4th offense
DUI has resulted in “serious injury by vehicle”
DUI has resulted in a fatality, known as “homicide by vehicle”

“Serious injury by vehicle” or “vehicular homicide” in the 1st degree have been considered felonies in Georgia since 2008. Injuries categorized as “serious” are those that: render part of the victim’s body useless (e.g. paralysis, blindness, serious disfigurement, brain damage). Other charges that result in felony charges for DUI offenses include those that involve:

Failing to stop for police
Fleeing from law enforcement
Being a habitual offender
Being involved in a hit-and-run accident
Being in an accident with a school bus

About Lawrenceville

Historically this is a town that attracts visitors on a regular basis. Folks enjoy The Aurora Theater, Gwinnett Georgia College, The Infinity Arena, and the Gwinnett Braves. Its also the home of Gwinnett Medical Center, and of course the center of Government. Currently playing the city of New York in Foxs Sleepy Hollow TV series, there is always something happening in Lawrenceville. These are just a few things that make Lawrenceville a pretty great seat for our county!

Contact a 24-hour DUI Defense Lawyer in Lawrenceville

Being arrested for DUI can be frightening and confusing. Without a skilled legal professional at your side, the experience can be totally overwhelming. If you are arrested for DUI in Lawrenceville or the surrounding area, whether for a first offense or for a more complicated legal problem, you will find our services invaluable. Bear in mind that the consequences of your arrest may alter the course of your life.

At Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP, we are ready to help to extricate you from difficulties you face. Remember — the longer you wait to consult with us, the longer you remain in legal jeopardy. We are fully prepared to conduct in-depth investigations, confer with experts in related fields who may be helpful to your case, gather all pertinent evidence, interview any and all available witnesses, and construct a workable defense strategy. All you have to do is contact us by phone or by filling out a contact form on our website.

Contact Our Lawrenceville DUI Defense Lawyers Today

If you or your loved one are facing DUI charges in Gwinnett County, Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP can help. We have successfully defended DUI cases throughout Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Dawson County. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can fight for your rights.

Areas We Serve In Gwinnett

Speak with a Skilled DUI Attorney Today

Our Service Area

We are located in Suwanee Georgia, but we defend clients throughout Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Dawson County. Contact our Atlanta law firm as soon as possible to learn how we advocate for your best interests.