Roswell DUI Lawyer
Driving under the influence is reckless and puts others at serious risk of injury and death. It is also a crime for which you can spend serious time in jail, lose your license, lose your job, and lose your status in society. But not everyone who gets arrested for a DUI is found guilty. Police report errors, lack of probable cause, and breathalyzer errors are just a few ways in which the Roswell DUI lawyers at Hawkins Spizman have helped clients beat the charges against them. Just because you were arrested for a DUI does not mean your life is over as you know it. A lawyer can help.
What Happens if I’m Found Guilty of a DUI?
- First Offense—Up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $1,000, and a license suspension of one year.
- Second Offense—Up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $1,000, and a license suspension of three years. Plus, installation of an ignition interlock system.
- Third Offense—Up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $5,000, and a license revocation of up to five years.
- Fourth Offense—Felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.
How We Can Help
Field sobriety tests gone wrong, inaccurate breathalyzer testing or malfunctioning equipment, improper police conduct, and lack of probable cause to pull you over in the first case are all areas in which an attorney may be able to poke holes in the prosecution’s case against you. And, in some cases law enforcement does not even want to carry through with an expensive and time-intensive DUI case, let alone take it to trial. In many municipalities throughout the country, police forces are tasked with bringing in revenue through traffic stops. A disproportionate number of such towns and cities lie in the South, according to the New York Times. Because the primary objective, at least in some of these municipalities, is to generate revenue for the town, police are often encouraged to downgrade higher level traffic offenses, such as DUIs, to lower (and less court-costly) offenses such as “public intoxication.” It may simply be too expensive or difficult for the court system to go up against a well-equipped defendant with a competent attorney by their side. Regardless of the circumstances, if the evidence against you is already flimsy, an attorney can help reduce the charges against you.
DUI Statistics
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 300,000 Americans drive drunk every day. 290,000 people each year become injured as a result of these drunk driving incidents, many of whom are other road users—drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. While drunk driving is no longer as socially acceptable as it was prior to MADD, which began in earnest in the 1980s, over 10,000 Americans are killed in drunk driving crashes every year. As such, the penalties for drunk driving remain the highest among almost all traffic offenses.
Contact a Roswell DUI Lawyer Today
Drunk driving is a serious crime, and prosecutors will attempt to hand down the greatest jail sentence and fines possible. Only an experienced Roswell DUI lawyer can mitigate these penalties. Contact Hawkins Spizman today at 770-685-6400 to schedule a free consultation.
