Franklin County DUI Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been charged with DUI, you need to call our skilled Franklin County DUI Lawyers today. Our office has over 25 years of experience in defending DUI and related charges. Our DUI Attorneys in Franklin County have dedicated their lives to DUI cases and are Georgia's premier DUI defense firm. We are able to obtain excellent results for our clients, even in seemingly lost situations because of our experience and intimate knowledge of DUI law. Call now and find out how we can best serve you!

How to Avoid a DUI Charge in Georgia

DUI charges can have life-altering consequence, even for a first DUI. We have put together some tips to help you avoid getting a DUI. However, if you are charged, our Franklin GA DUI Attorneys are ready to take your call.

1. Stay up to date on car maintenance

By maintaining your vehicle in a road-worthy state, you'll eliminate the need for officers to pull you over in the first place. Most people are not pulled over simply because the officer suspects them of DUI; they are pulled over for another traffic offense such as speeding, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, weaving, or an officer notices their head/tail lights are out. Once pulled over, the officer can start a DUI investigation.

2. Don't try to avoid checkpoints

Although tempting for many drunk drivers, executing a U-turn to avoid a checkpoint can land you in hot water. It often rouses the suspicion of police officers and can lead to them following you and pulling you over.

3. Call a friend/Uber/Lyft

Instead of heading out on the road with a blood-alcohol level that could land you in jail, we advise you to use one of the many driving services to take you home. DUI consequences are severe and much more expensive than the price of hiring someone to pick you up.

4. Pullover quickly and in a safe place

When a cop turns on his lights and initiates his desire to pull you over, pull over as soon as it is feasibly possible and safely. If you are in the left lane of the interstate, cutting across all lanes of traffic to pull over is not the best way to do it. Safely navigate over and pull over in a safe spot. The officer will be taking notes on how you pull your car over.

5. Be respectful at all times

Your chances of walking away without a DUI charge are far better if you can be polite and respectful to the officer. Nothing hurts you more than being rude and having an attitude with the officer. Furthermore, most police cars have dash-mounted cameras and/or microphones, so your interaction will be recorded. If you are rude or hostile to the officer, the prosecutor will use the recording in court to try and get a harsher sentence.

6: Don't provide extra information

If you are stopped by a police officer, do not provide unnecessary information. It is best not to answer how much you were drinking or how many drinks you had. Continue to be polite but do not give information that they didn't ask for because it can be used against you later. Also, do not lie to the officer! Let your skilled Franklin County GA DUI Lawyer do the talking for you.

7: Politely decline field sobriety testing

Many people are under the misconception that they are required by law to participate in the field sobriety tests (the walk and turn test, one-leg stand, and horizontal nystagmus test). However, that is not true. There are various factors that could lead to an officer believing you are impaired from the tests even when you were not drinking. For instance, people who wear glasses or contacts sometimes struggle with the test no matter their alcohol level. Moreover, it can be hard to focus when you are nervous that you may be arrested. Therefore, we recommend you politely decline the field sobriety tests.

8: Once released from jail, write down everything you can remember about the arrest

As time passes, you may forget details of the arrest. However, it is critical as your Franklin County GA DUI lawyer, for us to have all the facts. Writing down what you told the officer, what he told you, if you were read your Miranda rights, and what you were doing before you were pulled over are all very important details. Try to get all of your thoughts down as soon as possible because it will be extremely helpful to your case.

9: Refuse the breathalyzer test but do not refuse the state-administered test

Most people are unaware that they are not required by law to take the breathalyzer test that the officer administers on the side of the road. These tests are notoriously unreliable, and there are numerous ways the results can be skewed. If you are arrested and asked to submit to the state-administered test at the police station, do not refuse, or else you will face a license suspension for up to one year.

Contact our DUI lawyers in Franklin County

You need and deserve an aggressive and experienced Franklin County DUI Lawyer who will fight for your rights. When you call us, we will inform you of your rights, inform you of what the law is, let you know what penalties you face, and discuss how to build your defense. Call us now for a free case evaluation.