With Memorial Day weekend coming to a close, Hall County and surrounding areas have already begun their summer DUI patrols. Driving under the influence is a serious charge in Hall County and the Sheriff's office and local State Patrol and Municipal police departments are out in full force all summer. With Lake Lanier within Hall and Forsyth Counties, DUI charges for both areas increase in the summer months and cops are looking out for drunk drivers.
Critical Steps If You Have Been Arrested
If you have been arrested for DUI in Hall County, there are some first steps you must take to defend yourself. First, you will have a ten day deadline to submit an appeal letter to the Georgia Dept. of Driver Services before your driver's license will be suspended. Under Georgia DUI law, an officer arresting a motorist for DUI must submit their license along with a Form 1205 after an arrest. This kicks in an administrative suspension unless you timely appeal it. Call or email us today for more information on this ten day deadline and how we meet it in your case.
Second, make sure you have all of your citations and paperwork organized. Our office will want copies of all of this paperwork to make sure everything is submitted to the correct courts and agencies. You should at least have a yellow Uniform Traffic Citation (or multiple tickets), a Form 1205 yellow form from Georgia Dept. of Driver Services, and possibly a copy of a breath testing slip if you were breath tested on the Intoxilyzer 5000. Scan these copies if possible and have a digital file ready for our review. A missed deadline in the beginning can lead to big problems down the road in your case.
Third, remember that you do not need to attempt to speak to the arresting agency or cop about your case. Often, clients initially feel the need to help out or attempt to call the officer that arrested them. Do not do this. A good defense lawyer will know exactly how to obtain the documents needed and approach the arresting officer and courts on your behalf. You will pay good money for your defense, so let us handle these issues for you.
Gainesville DUI Lawyers & Our Free Consultation
Both Mr. Zeliff and Mr. Watson are well known in the field of DUI and BUI defense. They annually attend DUI specific training and keep up to date on the latest changes to the laws. Read Mr. Watson's article on the new boating under the influence laws. If you have been charged with a DUI and are seeking answers and advice on the best approach for your defense, call our office today to speak with us about your case. We do not charge for the initial consultation and are available for both in-person and phone appointments. Weekend appointments can usually be scheduled as well.
Additionally, if you are trying to meet the deadline to file your license suspension appeal- which will need to be done in virtually all cases- call our office for help with this letter. We currently do not charge any fee on top of a small admin fee and the payment that must be submitted to the state. Call and speak to us our or paralegals today and your letter will be submitted usually by the close of business the same day.