I WAS JUST ARRESTED FOR A DUI, NOW WHAT?!

I was just arrested for a DUI, now what?

Getting arrested for a DUI can be a scary process.  Where does one start?  Do I need an attorney?  What is going to happen in the court process?

I often get students, who, by the time they reach my door at allieddui.com for DUI/Risk Reduction Program, have been through the wringer.  After getting put in jail, losing their license, finding an attorney and meeting probation requirements people often have a hard time navigating everything they need to have done.

Typically after getting arrested for a first time DUI and bonding out of jail, You will be notified to appear in court.  This is a good time to seek counsel with a DUI/Criminal attorney.  They are going to be your best bet for a possible reduction in your case. Once your case is adjudicated in court, you will most likely be required to meet certain terms as set by a judge, and enforced by a probation officer.

If you have a suspended driver's license, it is best to be clear and call DDS, to ensure when you are able to get a work permit and when your full reinstatement will be possible.  Not every person will lose their license, but many will.

Do you have questions about the best place to do your community service? Do you need DUI/Risk Reduction school? Need an attorney recommendation?  Don't understand the court process? Need a clinical evaluation?  We aren't attorneys and can't give legal advice, but we do understand the system and can help!  Call us at 912.257.3307, we are happy to help you!

It is required by Georgia State law to ensure the following penalties for a first DUI offense.  Per the Governor's Office of Highway Safety here are the laws:

First Offense

24 hours Jail Time
Fine of $300 minimum, up to $1,000
License suspension of up to one year
40 hours of community service
One year probation
minimum mandatory $210 license reinstatement fee
a mandatory clinical evaluation and, if indicated, completion of a substance abuse
treatment program at the offender's expense

Victim Impact Panel 

Second Offense Within Five Years Of First Offense

Minimum mandatory 48 hours in jail, possible 90 days to one year
Fine of $600 minimum, up to $1,000
License suspension of three years
Minimum 30 days community service
$210 set license reinstatement fee
A mandatory clinical evaluation and, if indicated, completion of a substance abuse
treatment program at the offender's expense

- See more at: http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/highway-safety/impaired-driving-laws/#sthash.eBKaGjqO.dpuf

What if I Refuse a Breathalyzer?

What if I Refuse a Breathalyzer?

Often people ask the question, Should I have refused that breathalyzer?  The answer is not always a simple one.  Technically, when you sign that line for your Georgia's driver's license, you have also signed your right away to refuse the breathalyzer.  This is what we call implied consent.  However, people every day refuse the chemical test--unsure if it is the right thing or not.  When one refused the breathalyzer or even a blood test, there are some inherent consequences, set forth by the state of Georgia--and you can still be charged with a DUI.

The officer is looking for proof of what he has probable cause to charge you with.  After refusing the breathalyzer, urine or blood test, you have 10 days to submit to the Department of Driver Services, your license suspension letter of appeal. See, the officer in this case is likely going to submit that your license gets suspended, and on the 31st day of your arrest, it will be, unless you attend the ALS hearing.  With some cases, the prosecution can use your breathalyzer refusal as an admission of guilt.

Minor in Possession

What happens if I get charged with a Minor in Possession of Alcohol?  This happens often, especially in the Savannah and Statesboro areas. And even if you don't think it's a big deal, the government does.  Unfortunately it's not about moral aptitude or if you just had a drink at a party.  If you are under 21 years of age, the government can and often does give people tickets for this.  Georgia state law 3-3-23 states that "No person under 21 years of age shall purchase, attempt to purchase, or knowingly possess any alcoholic beverage..."  

So you got an MIP and now what?  It is a criminal offense and it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel.  You can lose your license for up to 6 months and be sentenced to take Risk Reduction Class, which is the same as the one we offer over at www.allieddui.com.  Allied Learning Center, located in Savannah, GA, can help you meet your legal requirements