The Do’s and Don’ts After You’ve Been Charged with a DUI

We all make mistakes, but letting them snowball into a series of missteps is never the right solution, especially in a DUI case.

DUI charges carry many extreme potential penalties, including possible jail time, probation, and driver’s license suspension. There are some important rules you need to follow if you are charged with a DUI:

• Do not assume an arrest guarantees a guilty verdict
• Do seek legal advice quickly after your charge
• Do not try to represent yourself
• Do try to appeal your license suspension

While these rules will help the situation, it is crucial to understand the proceedings if you want to avoid the maximum penalties. This is especially true if this is not your first DUI charge, as the penalties can also include felony charges and up to five years in prison.

What Are The Penalties For a DUI?

In Georgia, the penalties for a DUI are related to the number of prior DUI charges. For a first offense, the charges are much less severe but still can cause a massive disruption to your life and career.
First offense charges include but are not limited to:

• License suspension
• One to ten days in jail
• One year of probation
• The cost of court proceedings and surcharges
• $300 fine
• Community service

The charges scale up until a fourth DUI, at which point you will be facing felony charges and much more severe penalties.

What Can I Do to Save my License?

During almost every arrest for driving under the influence, the arresting officer will inform the detained driver of their implied consent rights and confiscate their license.

This is the first step in the process of suspending a license. Luckily, an administrative license suspension (ALS) must go through many stages before it is finalized. As stated by the Constitution, every citizen is entitled to due process.

• Learn more about driving with a suspended license

In this case, it means that you can request a hearing to appeal the suspension of your license as long as you do it within 30 days of your arrest. Moving quickly is critical as this is the biggest “must-do” after being arrested for a DUI, which has a very tight time window.

To request an appeal hearing, you will need to pay a fee and follow a complicated and detail-focused process. It is highly recommended that you hire a lawyer to make this go smoothly.

What Should I Avoid Doing After My Arrest?

Being arrested for a DUI is a stressful experience, and many don’t bother fighting the charges because they consider them to be set in stone. However, an arrest does not automatically mean that you are guilty, and pleading guilty to a DUI charge is actually not the best idea.

Many think that taking the guilty plea will make the ordeal move quickly and make the stress and embarrassment of the charges go away, but in truth, it can lead to even more unexpected consequences.

Even if you can’t win your DUI case, fighting it can result in reduced charges or penalties. Most importantly, fighting your DUI charge with a lawyer gives you the chance to know your rights and all of the consequences that can occur upfront, this will allow you to be informed of your decisions before you make them.

You will never be able to seek lower penalties or potentially win a DUI case if you choose not to fight it, and being associated with a guilty plea can have a significant impact on your life, career, and loved ones.
For more legal advice on DUI’s don’t hesitate to reach out.