BLAIRSVILLE DUI LAWYER - BLAIRSVILLE DUI ATTORNEY

Lawson and Berry is a Georgia law firm specializing in DUI defense. We have helped thousands of individuals throughout Georgia avoid convictions for DUI or DUI related offenses. Our Blairsville DUI Lawyers have the skill and experience to help you obtain an excellent outcome for your case. Being arrested and accused of DUI does not mean you are guilty! Call now for a free case evaluation.

30-Day Warning

You only have 30 days to prevent the suspension of your Georgia's drivers license if you were arrested for a DUI in Blairsville. You have the option to request an Administration License Suspension (ALS) hearing or install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. Whatever option you choose must be done within the thirty day period or else your license will be automatically suspended. However, if you refused the State's testing of your blood, breath, or urine, your license will be suspended for twelve (12) months. Choose an experienced DUI attorney in Blairsville to handle your case and advise you on your options to save your Georgia driving license.

Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety testing has been around since law enforcement first started enforcing DUI laws. In the beginning, the tests ranged from officer to officer. Essentially, officers could use whatever techniques they wanted to try and gauge a person's impairment. In the late 1970s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulated the tests and designed a three-part test. It includes the one-leg stand, the walk-and-turn, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. These tests became the standard in determining whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While most officers use these tests, they sometimes utilize other methods such as reciting the alphabet backward.

Types of Tests:

Standard methods of testing to see if a driver is impaired include field sobriety tests. These three steps each have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, they all share the same difficulty of relying on basic physical abilities that not all people possess.

One-Leg Stand: This test is self-explanatory, but an officer will request the driver to stand on one leg. The officer is looking to see if the driver has a difficult time balancing. However, this test may give inaccurate results if the person has poor vision, is wearing high heel shoes, or if they are overweight.

Walk-and-Turn: If an officer uses the walk-and-turn test, they will request the driver to take 10 steps, turn, and then repeat the same 10 steps back. The steps must be taken heel to toe. The officer will observe whether the driver can follow directions and can perform the requested actions. Similarly to the one-leg stand, there are factors beside drinking that can make this test difficult.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus- The HGN test is the most widely accepted and scientifically approved. This test involves the driver trying to follow an object, such as a pen, while the officer watches. The officer is looking for signs of intoxication, including whether the driver is able to follow the pen. There are some medical conditions and prescription drugs that can affect this test.

How Our Blairsville DUI Attorneys Can Help

Our lawyers have over 50 combined years of experience with DUI cases. We have an extensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of field sobriety tests. Even if you believe you failed the tests, we can help! It can be difficult in any case for people to pass these tests. Factors that can impact your performance on these tests include your footwear, age, weather, weight, or any medical conditions you may have. By using dash-cam footage from the police car, it is possible to prove that the tests were not administered properly. When your future is on the line, it is important to investigate every angle to see if the evidence against you is valid. Our DUI lawyers in Blairsville are extremely thorough in their investigation and will ensure your rights, freedom, and future are protected.

Blairsville Municipal Court

The Municipal Court of Blairsville is responsible for hearing all traffic and city ordinance violations. The Honorable Robert Sneed is the Municipal Court Judge, and Cindy Neely is the Chief Clerk. Court is held the second Monday of each month at the Union County Historical Courthouse at 65 Courthouse Street, Blairsville, Georgia 30512.

Map to Blairsville Municipal Court 

Contact Us

If you have failed any of the field sobriety tests and were arrested and charged with DUI, you need an experienced DUI attorney in Blairsville. We will challenge the evidence against you and investigate every aspect of your case. Our Blairsville DUI lawyers will work hard for you and are dedicated to your case. Our office is open 24 hours a day so we can answer your questions no matter what time it is. Contact our office now to speak with one of our attorneys.