Gwinnett County DUI Third Offense Felony Lawyer
A third DUI charge in a 10-year period is a serious crime in Georgia. Now, defendants face elevated charges and everything that comes with it. Contact The Spizman Firm today to speak with a Gwinnett County DUI third offense felony lawyer. There is no time to delay. A conviction is not inevitable, which provides some hope to defendants, but you need a dedicated criminal defense lawyer to represent you.
When is a DUI a Felony in Georgia?
Georgia punishes defendants more harshly if they have prior DUIs. For example, a third conviction in three years is considered a “high and aggravated” misdemeanor. A defendant can face up to 12 months in jail and other penalties.
If you have three prior DUI convictions in a 10-year period, then your fourth conviction will be a felony under Georgia law. You are facing:
- 120 days behind bars, up to 5 years in state prison
- Maximum $5,000 fine
- Other court fees and surcharges
- Five-year license revocation
- Community service
- DUI alcohol or drug course
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device
Georgia felons face other legal disabilities, including loss of the right to vote and a prohibition on owning firearms. If you continue to keep your guns, then you can face additional criminal charges as a felon in possession.
Convicted felons also face challenges trying to re-establish themselves after serving their sentence. Any criminal record will show up on a halfway decent background check. Many employers will immediately exclude you from consideration for a job. It can even be hard to get a “gig” job as an Uber driver if you have DUIs, since you are a risk to public safety.
Contact The Spizman Firm
Storm clouds might be gathering overhead, but the right DUI lawyer can still give you a chance to come out of the process with minimal penalties. Our Gwinnett County DUI third offense felony lawyers have handled all types of cases, including those for repeat offenders. We provide the following services:
- Review the evidence. The state still needs to prove you committed DUI to get a conviction, even if you have prior DUIs. The most common evidence in these cases are test results (particularly the breathalyzer) and the arresting officer’s eyewitness testimony. However, this evidence might not be as strong as the state imagines.
- Get your perspective. You are a critical witness and can share important information. Did the officer say why you were stopped? Were you speeding or weaving over the road?
- Speak with witnesses. Other people in the car could have seen you were driving safely and the officer had no reason to stop you.
When the evidence against you is weak, we have a stronger hand to approach the District Attorney and request a favorable plea deal or even a dismissal of charges. Plea discussions for felony DUI are sensitive, because the state has little reason to think you won’t commit DUI again.
DUIs Handle the Right Way
Inexperienced defense lawyers might simply assume you have no chance of winning a DUI case given your record. We know better. Often, the right defense is not immediately obvious, but with some digging and analysis we can find our way to favorable resolution. Call our office to schedule a personal consultation with a Gwinnett County DUI third offense felony lawyer.
