Fighting to Have a DUI Dropped to Reckless Driving

How to Beat a DUI in Georgia

Having a DUI dropped to Reckless Driving is the gold standard in DUI defense in Georgia. At Zeliff | Watson, our attorneys take every new case with the goal of either beating the DUI charge at trial, or having the DUI reduced to a reckless driving charge. Both Mr. Zeliff and Mr. Watson also have outstanding track records of defending DUI cases and obtaining the best results for their clients, no matter the circumstance.

The chances of DUI charges being dismissed entirely by a prosecutor are slim to none. DUI is a politically charged crime and advocacy groups and the general public alike agree that DUI takes lives.

With this said, prosecutors, whether on the county or municipal level are very hesitant to dismiss cases. In 9 of 10 cases, they would rather go to trial and lose in front of a judge or jury before they dismiss a case out right.

A DUI defense must be geared towards trial. This means both you and your attorney must be ready for trial if it comes down to it. For the client, this makes it very important to find an attorney who you trust would have your back, even if the case went all the way to trial. While the percentages vary, somewhere between 90-95% of criminal cases end in a plea agreement.

Prosecutors are very aware that a lot of attorneys will plead their clients guilty before they seriously go to trial. This hurts clients' cases. Before you hire an attorney, talk to them about their recent trials and their results in cases similar to yours.

DUI Reduced to Reckless Driving in Georgia

Having a DUI reduced to reckless driving in Georgia through a reckless driving plea is the most common way to have DUI charged dropped. DUI is a six-point offense that stays on both your driving and your criminal records forever. Reckless driving, by comparison, is a four-point non-alcohol specific traffic offense.

While being ready for trial is always the best way to defend a DUI case, sometimes after pretrial negotiations, an alternative to a DUI plea can be reached. If your attorney is able to plead you to reckless, your record will show the DUI charges were dismissed and that you instead pled to the reckless driving traffic charge.

Additionally, a reckless driving charge carries no mandatory driver's license suspension. This is huge since even a first DUI charge will suspend your driver's license for up to a year. This spares you the hardship and expense of using a limited license for some period of time, and then paying the fees and taking the time to reinstate your driver's license.

Getting a Reckless Driving Plea from DUI

Every case is different in the world of DUI defense. If you have been charged with a DUI and are trying to give yourself the best chance to plead to a lesser charge, I always advise my clients to get started on some predictable requirements early on. Print and read my updated 2014 3 Steps Guide that discusses the first things you should begin doing to help your DUI case and gives you helpful resources to get started.

If you have been charged with a DUI and want to discuss how a reckless driving plea could save your record from DUI, call our office today and we will be happy to discuss your case with you. We will also assess your case and give you an honest evaluation on how we will defend against your DUI charges.

Remember, a reckless driving plea is not an "option" in your case, but rather an outcome that usually comes from months of hard work and negotiations in your case. Give us a call or email us today to begin setting up your defense. We can be reached directly at (770) 676-1340 or by email at: help@zwdefense.com.

Click above to read more on Georgia's less safe DUI law, as well as our Client Reviews. Find out why our team is one of Atlanta's most highly respected and sought after DUI defense lawfirms.

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