Roswell DUI Attorney

Facing DUI Charges?

Being charged with a DUI can be an intimidating experience. Although it may feel as though there is nothing that can be done to defend you, this is far from the truth. There are a number of potential defenses that could be used to seek to get your charges reduced or dismissed. Our firm has helped countless clients overcome DUI charges successfully and may be able to begin assisting you immediately.

With almost 40 years of combined experience, our firm can handle even the most complex DUI charges. We have helped many to obtain not guilty verdicts, favorable pleas and even dismissal of all charges. When you hire a Roswell DUI attorney with a successful track record, you are giving yourself the best possible chance to overcome serious charges.

Our highly experienced DUI defense attorneys from The Sherman Law Group will aggressively defend clients and do all they can to fight for a dismissed charge, reduced charge, alternatives to jail, or an acquittal. Your chance of overcoming these charges is much higher when you have one of our experienced legal team on your side.

If you are facing penalties for drunk driving charges, call the firm today and speak with a Roswell DUI attorney.

Our DUI Practice Areas

If you are convicted of DUI charges in Roswell, you could be forced to face serious repercussions including jail time, license suspension, expensive fines, community service, and other penalties. We will do everything possible to fight for a favorable outcome in your case. We know how much stress and anxiety you are experiencing, and you can be assured that we will aggressively represent you and will be fully committed to your defense.

We represent individuals charged with any DUI offense, including:

We manage our cases from start to finish, and represent our clients at DDS hearings, address the problem of vehicle impoundment, and challenge all evidence including field sobriety tests, BAC, and breath and blood tests. We can help you defend against potential DUI penalties & felony charges. Our criminal defense experience provides individuals accused of any such offense the legal support needed.

Frequently Asked DUI Questions

Was my DUI stop legal?

Police officers are required to have probable cause to perform a traffic stop. The cause may be a traffic violation, defect in the vehicle's safety equipment, or a driving action that displays that the driver is intoxicated.

Common reasons to stop a vehicle include:

Speeding
Failure to use signals
Rolling through a stop sign
Driving with burned-out lights

If the police officer did not have a valid reason to pull you over, you may be able to use this as defense to your DUI.

What are the penalties for DUI?

The penalty that you face in Georgia for your offense of driving under the influence will depend on how many previous offenses you have received. For just a first-time offense of driving under the influence, you can face 24 hours to 1 year in jail, fines of $300 to $1,000, as well as a license suspension of up to 1 year. Penalties continue to increase for each subsequent offense.

Will I go to jail?

For a conviction of driving under the influence, there is a good chance that you will go to jail. The length of time that you will spend incarcerated, however, depends on the number of offenses you have.

The breakdown is as follows:

1^st Offense – 24 hours to 1 year
2^nd Offense – 3 days to 1 year
3^rd Offense - 15 days to 1 year
4^th Offense – 1 to 5 years

You must serve the minimum sentence for your specific charge but the remaining time can be suspended or probated by the judge.

Will I lose my license?

After being convicted for a DUI, you will lose your license for a temporary timeframe. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will suspend your license for either being charged with DUI or for refusing to take a chemical test.

The length of time in which it will be suspended depends on the circumstances of the arrest, including:

Your age
Your blood alcohol content (BAC)
Whether you refused a chemical test

What is a limited driving permit?

You may be able to obtain a limited driving permit in Georgia if your license has been suspended. You may be eligible for the limited driving permit if you plead guilty to driving under the influence and it is your first offense within five years. DUI driving permits are known as limited driving permits and can be valid for 120 days from when you were convicted.

What makes a DUI a felony?

Driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia will be considered a misdemeanor or felony. Most DUIs are classified as a misdemeanor, but you could be charged with a DUI felony if you have prior offenses on your record or you violated another law in addition to drinking and driving.

Some of the circumstances that can lead to a felony DUI charge are:

Causing an accident that results in extensive property damage
Causing an accident that leads to serious personal injury
Causing an accident that results in wrongful death
Transporting a child while impaired
Arrests for a fourth DUI

What is a field sobriety test?

Field sobriety tests are used by police officers to identify possible drivers who are under the influence of alcohol. They are roadside field sobriety tests that occur when an officer pulls over a driver and is suspicious that he or she is under the influence of alcohol.

The three main field sobriety tests are:

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
Walk and Turn
One-leg Stand

What happens if I refuse a breath test?

If you are arrested for DUI in Georgia, you should be aware of the consequences of refusing a chemical test, such as a breath test. You will be charged for refusing to submit to the breathalyzer test and may also be charged with DUI. The state can take your license because of the refusal to submit because of the Administrative License Suspension Process. You will have 10 days to request an ALS hearing to defend your driving privileges.

Can I fight my DUI even if I fail a breath test?

Even if you fail a breath test and your blood alcohol content is over the legal limit, you can still fight your DUI. There are many errors that can lead to a false BAC result and our firm can help you fight these charges. If the regulations for administering a breath test are not strictly observed, a false positive result may be shown.

Some of the ways a breath test can be proven inaccurate include:

Operator error
Improper calibration of the device
Certain medical conditions
Environmental contamination of the sample
Inaccurate record-keeping

When should I hire a Roswell DUI attorney?

If you want to fight your DUI case and to pursue a reduction or dismissal of your charge, you should immediately hire an attorney. You will want to work with a lawyer who understands the laws relating to driving under the influence charges in Georgia. Whether you have been charged with DUI for a BAC result that was above the legal limit or you refused to submit to a breath test, you should get the legal help you need at once and contact our firm!

Get Help Avoiding the Penalties of Conviction

With a former Assistant Attorney General and Magistrate on our team, we have the experience and insight into the criminal justice system you need if you are hoping to avoid the penalties of a conviction. Yes – you have been charged with drunk driving. This does not mean that you will be convicted or that you are even guilty of the crime. Law enforcement makes errors frequently and our firm has the experience to find the best course of action in your case. Call our firm as early as possible after your arrest so we can evaluate your situation with regard to your defense.

Arrested for DUI? Contact a Roswell DUI attorney from the firm today to start discussing your defense.