DUI Consequences in Coweta County
If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you are facing very serious consequences. But you may not know exactly which consequences apply to your specific circumstances and your available options to avoid them. The DUI attorneys of Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis, P.C. can help you understand the potential penalties and the actions you can take to minimize or eliminate the charges. Our attorneys provide determined, effective defense for your DUI charge in Coweta County.
Understanding the penalties for DUI
In Georgia, a DUI first offense is classified as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors may carry a sentence of up to one year in jail. Under Georgia DUI laws, some of these offenses are considered felonies and may incur up to five years in jail. In addition to a jail sentence, a conviction may come with fines, community service and suspension of your license. The severity of the consequences depends on how many DUIs you’ve had in the 10 years preceding your current DUI incident. They include:
- First offense DUI (in a 10-year period) – Minimum of 24 hours in jail, minimum fine of $300, maximum fine of $1,000
- Second offense DUI (in a 10-year period) – Minimum of 72 hours in jail, minimum fine of $600, maximum fine of $1,000
- Third and fourth offense DUIs (in a 10-year period) – Minimum of 15 days in jail, minimum fine of $1,000, maximum fine of $5,000
The judge has a certain amount of discretion when handing down your sentence. This discretion largely depends on the circumstances of your case, the applicable laws and your legal representation. Your Coweta County criminal defense lawyers present your facts in the most favorable light possible.
Protecting your freedom
Other lawyers may focus purely on getting you a plea deal, which in turn may lessen your penalty. While this option is certainly more beneficial than a trial conviction, it may also cheat you out of the possibility of an acquittal should the circumstances of your case make this a likely alternative. Our Newnan criminal defense attorneys thoroughly research your incident and the prosecutor’s version of events to try to find a means for dismissal of your charges or an acquittal. At Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis P.C., we work hard to get the most favorable results.
Charges outside of Georgia
Even if you are charged with a DUI outside of Georgia, it impacts your driving privileges in Georgia, since it is a party to the Non-Resident Violators’ Compact. As such, out-of-state administrative suspensions of your license are recognized in Georgia.
Contact our approachable DUI attorneys for advice on your potential Georgia DUI penalty
The Newnan DUI lawyers at Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis, P.C. have years of specialized experience and can explain the details of what you may be facing in your DUI case. Contact our firm online or call us at (770) 251-7100 for a free consultation. We are a trusted firm throughout Coweta County, the Atlanta metro area and Georgia.
