Let me be honest with you: an Atlanta DUI arrest is never a good thing. For your first offense, you could face pretty severe punishments, including jail time. However, it is important to keep in mind that every case is different, and while the maximum punishments are harsh, you won't necessarily be facing them.
For a first offense DUI in Atlanta, the maximum punishments include:
- Twelve months in jail
- A fine of $1,000
- Suspension of your driver's license for one year
- Mandatory clinical evaluation for drug/alcohol dependency
- Completion of a treatment program, if drug/alcohol dependency is clinically diagnosed (at your cost)
- Completion of DUI School (at your cost)
- 40 hours of community service
For a first offense DUI in Atlanta, the minimum punishments include:
- 24 hours in jail
- A fine of $300
- Suspension of your driver's license for a period of time (up to one year)
- Completion of DUI School (at your cost)
These penalty ranges are for what you might think of as a "standard" DUI. There are many facts that could change the punishment you might face. These include prior charges or convictions on your record, if you were charged with another non-moving violation (or other crimes) at the time of your arrest, your driver's license type, and much more. Under some circumstances, you might face a harsher punishment, while under other circumstances you might have a better chance of getting the minimum punishment if convicted, or avoiding DUI penalties altogether by negotiating a non-DUI charge. While there's a big difference in the penalty range for a first time Atlanta DUI, most times when a driver is charged with a first offense and has no additional negative factors, the punishment is much closer to the minimum than the maximum.
You do not need to understand all the elements of the Georgia DUI laws in order to fight your charges. We will help you determine what parts of the law apply to you based on your past and the circumstances of your arrest. When we talk, we will go over exactly what happened in your case. Our attorneys will also want to know about your career, your education, your family circumstances, and everything else that is important to you so that we can make sure that the best course of action is taken. This will give us a good picture of what punishments you could possibly face, and we can decide on the best game plan for moving forward. If you're looking at your first DUI charge, give Lawson and Berry a call and we will start exploring your case together and determine the best way to make sure this arrest has the least possible impact on your life.