A first-time DUI offense can be a nerve-wracking and scary experience, especially if you’ve never been charged with any kind of crime before. And yet it is one of the most common ways in which regular people suddenly find themselves entangled within the Georgia criminal justice system. Alcohol is an ubiquitous part of our society and is often served at meals or at social events. While the law prohibits drunk driving, even moderate drinking can send the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the limits deemed acceptable by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. As a result, many moderate drinkers who have never been in trouble with the law find themselves in police custody facing a 1^st time DUI case.

What you should do next

Any time law enforcement accuses a person of violating the law, they are required to gather evidence in support of their assertion that a law has been broken. In the case of a DUI arrest, this often involves an officer’s observations regarding a driver’s appearance and behavior as well as the chemical testing of their blood, breath, or urine. Two of the main tools used to gather this type of evidence are the field sobriety test and the breathalyzer test: for field sobriety testing, the driver performs a series of physical and cognitive tasks while the officer observes the driver for signs of intoxication, such as unsteady balance or slurred speech. The breathalyzer is a device that analyzes a person’s breath and determines his or her blood alcohol concentration.

Fortunately for drivers, there are many ways in which an expert DUI defense attorney can help. Some of the more common defenses used in DUI cases include the following:

• Establishing that the officer that performed the testing was lacked sufficient training;
• Arguing that any signs of intoxication that were observed were actually the result of a medical condition;
• Showing that the officer that pulled you over lacked legal justification for the initial stop; and/or
• Casting doubt on the accuracy of the breathalyzer results.

It is important for people who are facing a DUI to understand that even a 1^st time DUI is a serious offense that can result in significant penalties. The penalties can include the following:

• Probation;
• Fines;
• Community service;
• Mandatory alcohol or drug counseling; and/or
• Jail time.

In many cases, a skilled attorney can help people who are facing a DUI case avoid the most serious of these consequences and may even be able to have the case dropped or dismissed. Perhaps most importantly, a lawyer may be able to keep a DUI conviction from appearing on your criminal record, which has the potential to affect a person’s life for years to come. For this reason, it is critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a DUI arrest.

Contact an Atlanta DUI Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you have been arrested for drunk driving, you should call the attorneys at the Thomas, Webb and Willis, LLC immediately. Our attorneys are skilled Atlanta criminal defense lawyers who are well-versed in the DUI laws in Georgia and work to get our clients the best possible resolution to their case. Call our office today at 404-250-1113 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced lawyers for DUI attorney help in Atlanta.