Stopped for Drunk Driving in Georgia: What Does it Mean to You?
Augusta GA DWI Defense Lawyer
DUI or DWI is used to stop you driving under the influence of alcohol. This is a serious offense and should not be taken very lightly. If you are penalized your driving record would have details of this offense. In most of the states, DUI is regulated by per se laws such that there are maximum permissible limits of blood alcohol content that is deemed safe for driving. Above the prescribed BAC count, it is a criminal offense.
As soon as you are pulled over for drinking and driving, you would be ask to subject to a sobriety test which can be either blood, urine or breath. Mostly the breathalyzer is used to detect BAC. Those people who do not agree for a sobriety test can even get their driver’s license suspended for a year. The offender is given a choice of test to take. Since urine tests are not very reliable, breath or blood is taken for testing.
If your BAC is more than the permissible levels, you would be arrested and brought to police station and detained until either you friends and family or attorney comes to your rescue. You can exercise your right to be silent and avoid all questions until the arrival of your attorney. You would have to manage with suspension of driver’s license as well as impounding of your vehicle temporarily.
The next step is to appear in court in front of a judge or jury. Your license can be suspended according to courts ruling, unlike until then where suspension was an administrative rule. You can opt for a jury trial but final verdict and penalty is always given by judge. In some states mandatory sentences are prescribe and here judges cannot apply their discretion while ruling over a case. The first DUI offense is usually considered to be a misdemeanor and penalty imposed is not very severe. Second and subsequent offenses have more harsher penalties inclusive of suspension of license, fines and imprisonment.
If you are found guilty of violating traffic rules with regard to DUI or DWI you are very likely to be sentenced with penalties like:
• Fines and driver responsibility task.
• Driver’s license is suspended for a period.
• Take part in drunk driver programs.
• Addition of points onto your license resulting in an increase in insurance.
• Community service.
• Imprisonment.
• Parole or probation period which is compulsory in most cases.
• Various statutory fees are imposed.
• Taking part in drug and alcohol treatment programs.
• Installation of ignition interlock device in vehicle.
The only way to stay away from such incidents is to be a law abiding citizen. Be aware of your state’s drunk driving rules. If you are caught, consult a DUI lawyer immediately. A lawyer might be able to negotiate the bail amount as well as charges levied against you.