Many individuals face legal trouble after being charged with driving under the influence. While some might consider their case hopeless, not every case is hopeless.

Atlanta Municipal Court’s focus on providing quick resolution of cases means they will schedule the initial appearance for your DUI case on the following business day.

Atlanta DUI attorney Jim Yeargan attended Georgia Police Academy and holds certifications in field sobriety testing, Intoxilyzer 5000 operation and laser/radar training – giving him invaluable expertise which could work to your benefit.

1. Refusal to Take a Breath Test

An arrest for DUI in Georgia can be expensive and lead to fines, jail time, and license suspension penalties that could cost thousands. A qualified Atlanta DUI lawyer may help reduce these consequences by fighting on your behalf to reduce or avoid them altogether.

If you have been stopped for DUI, the most important step should be contacting an experienced attorney immediately. Doing so ensures you won’t be arrested before having an opportunity to review all evidence related to your case with an attorney.

Your attorney can file a demand for discovery with the prosecutor that requires them to hand over all evidence in your case, such as videos of how you appeared before and at central booking as well as results from Intoxilyzer breath or blood tests, video tapes from traffic stops as well as copies of police reports, supplemental reports and crash reports in your case – this evidence can lead to dismissal of DUI charges in certain instances.

2. Refusal to Take a Blood Test

Georgia DUI laws are stringent, and impaired drivers who drive without proper authorization may face harsh repercussions under state law. A DUI charge can have far-reaching ramifications on one’s life and should not be taken lightly.

Your Atlanta DUI lawyer can assist in fighting to uphold your rights. An important consideration in this regard is whether to submit to a blood or breath test; under implied consent laws, police officers have probable cause that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and thus must administer one if there is probable cause that they suspect impaired driving on your part.

However, refusing the test can have serious repercussions. First of all, it could lead to the suspension of your driver’s license for at least a year; and potentially more charges of violating implied consent law than just DUI charges may arise from it.

Before opting out of taking a blood test, carefully weigh all of its benefits and drawbacks. Your Atlanta DUI lawyer can assist in making an informed decision suited for your unique situation.

3. Refusal to Take a Field Sobriety Test

Unreliable breath test results, inaccurate or misinterpreted field sobriety tests, chain of custody issues with blood samples – these and other evidence may all undermine a DUI case, making an experienced DUI lawyer invaluable in uncovering any flaws in them or other evidence presented at trial.

Georgia DUI arrestees must appear for an arraignment hearing within 15 days after arrest, where their criminal defense lawyer will file discovery requests or motions challenging crucial components of the State’s case against them.

One of the more commonly administered field sobriety tests is the one-leg stand test, which requires subjects to hold their legs six inches off the ground for thirty seconds while remaining completely sober. Even sober individuals often find this difficult; physical characteristics like age or weight may alter performance; an experienced DUI lawyer will use this evidence in court, including any challenges against law enforcement who failed to have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop you initially.

4. Refusal to Take an Ignition Interlock Device

An alcohol DUI conviction can have devastating repercussions, from fines and license suspension to jail time. That is why you should retain an experienced Atlanta DUI lawyer when contesting your case.

At an arraignment hearing for DUI charges, the prosecutor can offer a plea bargain in order to settle the criminal charge. Only an experienced trial attorney familiar with your court can make the appropriate determination as to whether it would be better to accept or decline such offers; otherwise they might suggest taking your case all the way through to trial instead.

There are various defenses available to those accused of DUI. These may include showing that there wasn’t sufficient probable cause for an officer to stop you, that your blood or breath test results are inaccurate, that medical issues prevented you from performing field sobriety tests correctly, or that maintenance records on your vehicle haven’t been kept current.