DUI/Drunk Driving Practice Center
Arrest for a DUI charge can be frightening! Jail time is bad enough- not to mention having to post bond- but a conviction can send shock waves through your entire life. Imagine losing your driver’s license and maybe even your car… how would that impact your ability to work and care for your family? Your insurance rates will skyrocket. You’ll have a criminal conviction on your record that must be disclosed on almost any job application. You may be able to avoid these and many other negative consequences by acquiring an expert, experienced defense lawyer.
Savannah’s Comprehensive DUI Defense
You may have been accused of DUI (driving under the influence), but it’s your right to retain an attorney to help you explore all the possible ways to avoid conviction or reduce the severe consequences.
Andrews & Sanders Law Offices are your Savannah authorities on Georgia DUI law. We invite you to read the helpful information below about drunk driving laws throughout the United States, then contact us to find out how Georgia law applies specifically to your situation.
DUI law is complex. The guidance and support of a skillful, knowledgeable lawyer can radically affect your experience in the court system and the outcome of your case. Andrew & Sanders Law offices are ready to help, so take advantage of our free phone consultation to learn more.
Ignition Interlock Devices
Almost every state has a rule allowing a judge to order the installation of an “ignition interlock device” in the defendant’s vehicle. This usually occurs as a penalty in the sentencing phase of the case. The device requires the accused to measure their blood alcohol content (BAC) by blowing into a tube before they can start their car. If the driver’s BAC is above a specific threshold, the car will not operate. These rules vary by state, making it all the more needful to consult a quality DUI attorney where you live.
The Prosecutor’s Role
If criminal activity is suspected, it’s the job of a government agency to investigate, charge, arrest, try, and sentence the person or people responsible. Prosecution is the term for this process. A Prosecutor is a government-appointed lawyer who develops the case against an offender on behalf of the people in that state, county, city or other official jurisdiction. He or she presents evidence for an alleged offender’s guilt to a judge and/or jury. Prosecutors can go by many titles such as County Attorney, City Attorney, District Attorney, or State’s Attorney. There are some areas that may have a senior police officer act as prosecutor in DUI cases. The prosecutor is the adversary or “plaintiff” against the defendant and his or her attorney. The two sides argue in court and the winner is decided by a judge or jury.
Reliability of Breath-Test Results
0.08 is the BAC level above which the law presumes you to be intoxicated and unable to operate a vehicle safely. This number holds true in every state in the U.S. Each state also has some form of an “implied consent” law which means that every licensed driver is regarded by the state as having agreed to submit to field testing by a police officer when that officer has a reasonable cause to suspect that you are intoxicated. Refusal to cooperate with these tests results in suspension or revocation of the suspect’s license.
Drunk-Driving Conviction and Your Car Insurance
The penalties resulting from a collision due to alcohol use can be extremely negative, forever affecting your daily life. Not only is there the cost of car repair or replacement, insurance companies now consider you a high risk driver and will charge much more to insure you. In addition, you may have to deal with possible restitution paid to victims, your own regrets or guilt over harming someone, perhaps a civil lawsuit, fines, court fees, community service, alcohol education classes, rehabilitative treat for addiction, alienation from friends and family, a restricted or suspended driver’s license, attorney fees, probation and more. More than ever, those who have been charged with DUI need a quality lawyer who can advise you of your rights and defend you in court.
Resource Links
Impaired Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides information on drunk driving from a preventative standpoint, focusing on the legal and social ramifications.
DUI/DWI Laws
This link takes you to a chart illustrating the drunk-driving laws of all fifty states plus Washington, DC, published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Injury Prevention and Control: Impaired Driving
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) have assembled a wealth of data and literature on impaired driving.
The Century Council
A not-for-profit group concerned with reducing and ending drunk driving and underage drinking.
Impaired Driving
ACAT is a nationwide not-for-profit company whose mission is to educate the public, especially those suffering from alcohol dependence or abuse, about pathways to recovery. Includes thorough information on impaired driving.