Reader’s Question:

My brother was charged with DUI here in Georgia. This is already his second DUI offense because he was convicted for it two years ago. He was required to have an ignition interlock device placed on his car. What does this device do?

Arvin

Savannah, GA

Excellent question, Arvin.

A breath alcohol ignition interlock device (IID) is an instrument similar to breathalyzer which is installed in a vehicle’s dashboard. The driver must breathe into this device before the vehicle can be started. The vehicle will not start if the result is over a programmed blood alcohol concentration, commonly .02% or .04%.

The IID will require another breath sample at random times after the vehicle has been started. This is to prevent another person breathing into the device, enabling the intoxicated person to get behind the wheel and drive away.

In the state of Georgia, IID is required for a second DUI within a five-year period on or after May 1, 2000. The judge can make an IID a condition of probation for any DUI or serious traffic offense. The cost of the IID is carried by the defendant.

Reader’s Question:

I have an out-of-state driver’s license which has been suspended because of a DUI charge. I want to get a Georgia driver’s license. Can I still get one?

Kenneth

Augusta, GA

Thanks for asking, Kenneth.
Two common scenarios can exist. The first one is that your out-of-state license is suspended/revoked and you have no physical license. The Georgia Department of Public Safety would order that you get a letter of clearance from your previous home state. That would require following the correct procedures to get you out-of-state license reinstated so you can get a letter of clearance.

The second scenario is that you might have an out-of-state license which could be suspended without your knowledge (an example of this would be a suspension for failure to appear in court and pay a fine). In this case, you will be are issued a provisional Georgia driver’s license. Your Georgia driving privileges will be withdrawn until you take care of the out-of-state suspension if the Georgia Department of Public Safety learns of your prior suspension.

Your driving privileges can be revoked for life in some states. You will not be able to get a Georgia driver’s license if you are unfortunate enough to be in that situation.

Reader’s Question:

We got pulled over when we were driving home one night from a friend’s house in Georgia. We almost hit a post. My boyfriend was driving and he was charged with DUI. I’m just curious and to tell you honestly, I find it funny when the officer made him follow a penlight from the left to the right with his eyes? What did the officer do?

Mark

Macon, GA

Most police officers in Georgia perform this type of test. The term for this Field Sobriety Test (FST) is horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The medical term to describe a particular eye oscillation is nystagmus. Hypothetically, the steadiness of the eyes following the pen, and the degree at which the eyes begin to jerk indicate the level of alcohol in the blood of the driver. When the arresting officer performs this kind of test, he/she is attempting to judge if the angle is under 45 degrees to the side that the driver’s eyes begin to jerk. This typically means a blood alcohol level is over .05% if the angle is under 45 degrees.

The horizontal gaze nystagmus test is not permitted in many states. That is because the medical community does not regard it as credible. In addition, the majority of police officers that perform this test are not medically trained in the area. This means that their ability to properly judge the angle, and identify nystagmus is not reliable. Aside from the many apparent flaws, unfortunately, this FST is accepted in the state of Georgia.

Reader’s Question:

I have been arrested for DUI in Albany, Georgia. How can I find a qualified DUI lawyer in GA?

Julius

Albany, GA

Getting the best lawyer for legal representation is very critical to fight for your DUI charge in Georgia . If you do not make a move now, you could lose your GA driver’s license. A good defense can help you avoid jail time, court costs, penalties, probations, fines, criminal record and license suspension.

There are many Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers who could help you out in your DUI case. Best of all, getting proficient legal help with your DUI case can be easy and affordable. Most of them provide a free initial case evaluation and flexible payment options.

You can start protecting your legal rights by checking online for GA lawyers for free consultation on your DUI case.

As you have been reading all of these post, perhaps you have gotten a little depressed–I’m out of luck, you might think. I don’t have the money for an Augusta-Richmond County Georgia DUI lawyer, I have no way of getting it, and I have a case that means I really, really need one. Well, just because you’re thinking that, doesn’t mean it’s true. Money isn’t the only way to get a lawyer, though it may surprise you.

I’m sure you have heard that in the United States, you have a right to legal counsel, correct? Well, while this isn’t true for every DUI case there is, for some of the more serious ones it definitely is, so if you have a felony or often a misdemeanor as well, you could have the right to the state providing you with a public attorney.

Whatever doubts you have, get rid of them. Public lawyers are usually brilliant and experience, it most of the time they are following up a career of working as an Augusta-Richmond County Georgia DUI lawyer in a private firm with doing some work for the public sector. Across the board, these lawyers are usually more experienced and have a more in depth look of things from both sides than do their peers who only work in the private sector.

READER QUESTION:

I have seen the phrase “AV rated Atlanta GA DUI lawyer” on a lot of advertisements. Can you tell me what that is?

Marjane

Sure I can, Marjane.

The fact that a lawyer is listed as an AV rated GA DUI lawyer doesn’t tell you a lot unless it tells you what kind of AV rating they got, but just for your information, the AV rating tells you what kind of quality of attorney this person is, or at least according to their colleagues on the Georgia Bar.

An AV rating comes from many things: it is hinged on the lawyer’s experience, it includes information about how well they defend the cases they choose, it also considers their knowledge and their participation in the law community.

An AV rated Atlanta GA DUI lawyer with a good rating is the best kind of lawyer, and often has higher prices as well–because, you know, they can. This means such a lawyer may be out of your reach, and in any case if that’s true then you don’t want to bother with a lawyer with an excellent rating unless you have a very difficult case with a lot hinging on it. You would be surprised to find out how many ways there are for you to pay.

–Fashun.

On your fee agreement, you should find details about the various little costs that are the ingredients of the big pot that is your total fee. A certain part of your fee is just a flat rate, be it hourly or for total, but some of it is made up of little variables, and though often very low priced, they are still important parts of the cost of Marietta GA DUI attorney hiring that you need to observe.

• Some charges are paid for by the attorney’s office and are for court.
  • If you have chosen to have a tria by jury, this tends to cost extra.
  • Simple charges just for running the court.
  • Filing.
• Some charges will refer to the labor used by your attorney.
  • If the attorney needs to have employees work more on your case.
  • If your case has complications causing the employees to have to work overtime.
  • If you have witnesses that need to be interviewed, making the lawyer hire someone to interview them.
• Insignificant costs.
  • Paper.
  • Faxing.
  • Postage stamps.

Choosing a Columbus Georgia DWI lawyer is difficult, especially if you have many talented lawyers to choose from, so it may be a tiring process. Even when it’s over, though, you can’t just lay back and rest. Although your attorney will be in charge of most things concerning your case from here on it, it’s still more of a partnership and you will have to contribute or your lawyer will be in the dark.

It’s important for both of you to be on the same page and for you yourself to not get discouraged or hold your expectations too high. You can do this by getting together for another consultation with you Columbus Georgia DWI attorney and drafting a list of goals you have for your case.

Here are some goals to think on:

• What do I want to get done here? Do I want a shorter sentence, a smaller fine? Do I want a driving permit? Do I want to be completely absolved of all guilt and responsibility?
• What do I need to do, and when?
• When will certain things be accomplished?
• When will we finish?

Now that you are searching for a DUI lawyer in Athens-Clarke County GA, the thing you have to do to separate the wheat from the chaff is start going to consultations. You should consult with at least five different lawyers, unless, of course, you’ve been around this block before and know just who to hire. Most of you haven’t, though, so bring to your consultation some questions and a notebook. When you get home, you can compare answers and notes and fee agreements, and figure out who is the best for you. Make sure you don’t leave out the following questions:

• What number of years would you say you have been defending DUI cases as a DUI lawyer in Athens-Clarke County GA?
• During those years, have you only occasionaly defended DUIs, or have they made up a large portion of your case load?
• How would you rate that as a percentage?
• And of those cases, what percent would you say you achieved your original goals on?
• What about my case–is it familiar to you? Have you had one like it before me?
• If you have, how did that case turn out?

You may not even consider hiring a lawyer in the few hours after you have been charged with driving while intoxicated, but in time it is something that you need to think of. Now, a DUI is not like any old speeding ticket, and it can stay on your record for years, which is why you need to consult with an attorney. So here’s why you need a DUI attorney in Warner Robins Georgia:

• There are many, varied DUI laws, which a DUI attorney in Warner Robins Georgia can explain to you.
• An attorney can tell you what kind of charges you face and what this may mean for you.
• An attorney can do the calls, the paperwork, and all of the tiny details of a case.
• An attorney can relate your case to thir experience and comprehend how best to take it before the judge.
• A lawyer can help you set realistic goals for your case.
• A lawyer can defend you with their experience and knowledge.