Forsyth County DUI Lawyer - Forsyth County DUI Attorney

Forsyth County DUI Defense

If you are charged with a DUI in Forsyth County, you should call The Law Office of Richard Lawson now. A DUI arrest can be very alarming, especially if this is your first encounter with the law. The Law Office of Richard Lawson have been helping clients in Forsyth County for over 25 years and have seen every type of DUI case there is. We will be able to advise you every step of the way and get you your best outcome.  We are the top-rated and most reviewed law office in Georgia.  Our reviews can be found on AVVO.  As a former DUI prosecutor, Richard Lawson knows both sides of your DUI case and uses that experience to get you the best possible outcome in your case. Hire the most reviewed Forsyth County DUI Lawyers today.

DUI law can be very confusing; you don't want to get your license suspended; you're not sure how to stop it; you don't wish to spend time in jail, etc. Getting a top-rated DUI lawyer will clear up all the confusion for you. The first step in your Forsyth County DUI Defense is the 30-day letter. We file 30-day letters for clients every day to stop their licenses from being suspended. If you are facing DUI charges in Forsyth County, call now for a free consultation. We will discuss your best Forsyth County DUI Defense and how we fight and win cases every day. Hire the best Forsyth County DUI Attorneys today.  You only have 10 days to protect your freedom and your right to drive.

Forsyth County Georgia 30-Day Warning!

If you are arrested for DUI in Forsyth County GA, you only have thirty days to have your Forsyth County DUI Attorney file an appeal of your license suspension. If this appeal is not filed, and if the $150 filing fee is not paid, your driver's license or privilege to drive in Georgia will be suspended up to 12 months  This does not have to happen if you correctly appeal your license suspension and why it is so important to hire a Forsyth County DUI Attorney today.

What Happens in a Forsyth County DUI Arrest

1. DUI Roadblocks in Forsyth County

There are three ways you can be charged with DUI in Forsyth County, Georgia. The first is when you are stopped at a roadside checkpoint. Police will set up roadblocks periodically where they stop random cars and check IDs.  The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office and the Cumming Police Department are also trained to be on the lookout for signs of intoxication and suspected DUI Drivers. It is important to remember that there are certain protocols the police must take before they can set up a roadblock in Forsyth County. In the event the procedures are not properly followed, the State may not be able to prosecute you. Your Forsyth County DUI Lawyer can determine if the roadblock in your case was properly implemented.  Your Forsyth County DUI Attorney will not rest until all possible defenses are explored.

There must be a legitimate reason for the roadblock, such as it being an area where there have been a high number of accidents.  They must stop all vehicles, or they must randomly stop vehicles without singling out any person or automobile.  The roadblock must have the supervisors present who made the decision to implement the roadblock.  The roadblock must be properly marked, and they cannot profile certain people or groups of people. If there is any evidence of profiling, your DUI Lawyer in Forsyth County may be able to get your case thrown out.  Or, Your DUI Attorney in Forsyth County may be able to negotiate a reduction to a lesser charge such as reckless driving.

2. DUI Arrests After Being Pulled Over For A Traffic Offense

The second type of stop is when a police officer pulls you over for a traffic offense and then suspects you are DUI. Common traffic offenses can include speeding, failure to maintain lane, weaving, following too closely, racing, reckless driving, or aggressive driving.  A police officer is not allowed to pull a car over on a suspicion of DUI or a hunch.  A suspected DUI driving must have made a driving error to warrant being stopped by police. That is what is called "articulable suspicion."  There must be a reason for the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office to have an interaction with you. They cannot pull you over on a hunch without observing a traffic offense.

The most common traffic offenses that lead to DUI investigations are failure to maintain lane and speeding.  However, running a stop sign, failure to obey a traffic control device, and even headlight and tag light violations are frequent.  Of course serious traffic offenses such as hit and run, fleeing and eluding, racing and laying drag can also be charged along with DUI and serve as the basis of the stop.  Once you are stopped, Forsyth County police will always keep an eye out for signs of DUI. That includes observations of slurred speech, bloodshot or red eyes, and a smell of drugs or alcohol coming from the car. It can also include how well you perform on field sobriety testing. Only Forsyth County DUI Lawyers can determine if the field sobriety test in your case were performed and demonstrated correctly. The Forsyth County DUI Attorneys in our office are trained by the same people who are prosecuting the case against you.

3.  DUI Accidents

Finally, the third way you can be found driving under the influence is when you are involved in a car accident and are found to be intoxicated. After a major or even minor car accident, Forsyth County Police will test all drivers involved to make sure alcohol and drugs were not a factor. In a serious injury case or vehicular homicide the Forsyth County Sheriff's office or the Georgia State Patrol, GSP, have a right to demand a chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine.  If you refuse testing, they can get a warrant and take it regardless.  In some circumstances, they can get a chemical test without your consent or a warrant.  Even if the accident is not your fault, if you were found under the influence or alcohol of drugs, you will be arrested for driving under the influence.

Forsyth County DUI Process

Each DUI case in Forsyth County follows a similar sequence of court appearances. Being informed as to how your case will progress and hiring a Forsyth County DUI Attorney will make sure that your case is handled properly and that your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly at each step of the legal process.

Your first court appearance will be your arraignment date. Forsyth County State Court holds arraignments on Fridays at 8:30 am. Arraignments are held for the purpose of formally charging you with DUI and any other offenses you are accused of. At this hearing you will speak with the State's attorney and you will be expected to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty to the charges against you.  If you plead guilty, you will go before the judge for sentencing and your case will be resolved.  You will potentially face jail time and be put on probation and begin your sentence that day. If you represent yourself, you will lack the necessary Georgia DUI Information to properly handle your case.

If you are contesting the charges, however, and you plead not guilty your attorney will have an opportunity to speak to the prosecuting attorney and negotiate a plea offer. Your attorney may be able to persuade the prosecutor to reduce the DUI charge to a lesser offense such as reckless driving or negotiate a sentence that is fair given the circumstances of your case. It may also be possible for you to be excused from attending your arraignment date if your attorney files certain paperwork prior to your court date.

Regardless of how you expect your case to proceed, it is important to have hired a Forsyth County DUI Lawyer prior to arraignment.  Certain motions must be filed at or before your arraignment and if you file these motions out of time or not at all you may lose the ability to assert all available defenses to the charges against you. This can have a significant impact on your case.

Your next court date will be a Calendar Call.  Calendar Calls allow a judge to determine which cases are likely to proceed to trial and which are likely to be resolved by a plea agreement.  The judge will also ask if there are any pending motions to be heard in your case and schedule dates for future motion hearings if necessary.

The State Court of Forsyth County also schedules Priority Calendar Call appearances, which are typically scheduled the Wednesday before the trial week set for your case.  At Priority Calendar Call the judge will assign a number to each open case which can give you an idea as to how likely it is that your case will be heard during the trial week and when it will likely be called in for trial.  If you are one of the first several cases on the judge's calendar, then you will likely be called the first day of a trial week.

Trial week is when trials are held.  There are two types of trials possible in Forsyth County DUI cases – a jury trial or a bench trial where the judge acts as both judge and jury to decide your case.  A Forsyth County DUI Attorney will offer advice as to which is the best option given the specific facts of your case. Cases are won based on the facts and how the Georgia DUI Laws apply in your case.

Top-Rated Forsyth County DUI Lawyer – Best Forsyth County DUI Lawyer

The Law Office of Richard Lawson knows that a DUI arrest does not automatically mean you are guilty. We never assume that someone who is charged with a DUI in Forsyth County is a criminal and will fight hard for our clients to prove it. We are here for you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If you have been arrested for DUI in Forsyth County, call us at any time and speak to one of the best Georgia DUI lawyers in Forsyth County, Georgia. The Best DUI Attorneys in Forsyth County Georgia are always here to help because your problems deserve immediate attention. Our office exclusively practices DUI Defense throughout Forsyth County GA and all of Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.

Richard Lawson is a devoted Forsyth County DUI Lawyer. His legal career is dedicated to defending DUI clients. He has been practicing DUI law in Forsyth County for over 25 years and understands what a stressful event a DUI can be. That may be why he is one of the top-rated DUI lawyers in Georgia. You can see some of his reviews on the online rating service website AVVO.  Being top-rated is more than just the outcome a person receives in court.  Customer service, attention to detail, and compassion are just as important.  At our office, we realize the importance of your case to your life and your future. Richard Lawson began his legal career as a Georgia DUI prosecutor and has since moved on to defending those charged with DUI. In his over 25 years' experience, he has worked on over 4,600 cases and saved thousands of driver's licenses from absolute suspension.

DUI Penalties in Forsyth County Georgia

The consequences of a Forsyth Co. DUI can be very serious, especially if you do not have the proper legal representation. You need a lawyer who is going to fight for your rights and get you the best possible results. The Law Office of Richard Lawson works hard to get their clients' cases dismissed or reduced to lesser charges like reckless driving. Even a first time DUI on a clean driving record can lead to probation, fines and fees, and jail time.  Forsyth County is particularly hard on DUI Drivers.  It is known as a place where they prosecute people to the fullest extent of the law. They also have a DUI Court Program for multiple offenders.  Forsyth County DUI Court is an extremely harsh and difficult court supervised treatment program.

Specific Penalties for DUI throughout Georgia can be found in our penalty section of our Georgia DUI Information Website.  Georgia DUI Penalties. You can also read about related offenses that usually accompany a DUI arrest in Georgia. You can also read about offenses that involve youthful offenders, underage DUI in Forsyth County, Under 21 years old DUI in Forsyth County, and Forsyth County Juvenile Offenses.

Forsyth County is tough on DUI cases, but they do not “move” their cases quickly.  This means that it is likely months before you will have a court date and receive the evidence.  Commonly, the prosecutors in Forsyth County will only provide the police report and the video several months after your Forsyth County DUI Arrest.  This means even the most aggressive DUI Lawyers in Forsyth County will have to handle your ALS Hearing without all the evidence. Thankfully, the DUI Attorneys in Forsyth County from our office already know the procedures used by the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office, The Cumming Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol. Our Forsyth County DUI Attorneys know how to attack the State's case and win your case. This is also the case in the event you are charged with DUI in the City of Cumming, resulting in a case in Cumming Municipal Court. Our Office has experienced Cumming DUI Lawyers.  Our Cumming DUI Attorneys are always here to help  Call a Cumming DUI Attorney today. A Cumming DUI Lawyer is here 24/7, 365 days a year. Our Georgia DUI Information website is also available 24 hours a day to help provide you up-to-date Information on Georgia DUI.

DUI Drugs In Forsyth County

Drug related DUIs can have even stricter consequences in Forsyth County. If you are found guilty of a drug related DUI, you will not be able to get a limited permit to drive. Many Forsyth County DUI Lawyers are not aware of this issue. Call The Law Office of Richard Lawson in order to get one of the best and most knowledgeable Forsyth County DUI Lawyers. We advise our drug related DUI clients not to plead guilty unless the charges are amended to no longer include the mention of drugs. This is advice you will only receive from a law firm like The Law Office of Richard Lawson that devotes all of their practice to DUI clients.  We also help drivers with a CDL to protect their rights and fight serious traffic offenses like DUIs.  If you are facing charges in Forsyth County of vehicular homicide or DUI Child Endangerment, we are the lawyers for you with years of experience fighting and winning serious DUI, drug and traffic cases.  We literally wrote the Book on DUI Drugs in Georgia.

Call The Best Forsyth County DUI Lawyer Right Now

When you are arrested for DUI in Forsyth County it is vital that you call and speak with a Forsyth County DUI Lawyer right away. The Law Office of Richard Lawson will advise you only have thirty days after your arrest to file an appeal letter in order to stop your license from being suspended. This is called a 30-day letter. If Forsyth County police are alleging that you refused to take a blood, breath or urine test, you may be facing a license suspension of up to one year. You only have thirty days to act or you will lose your driver's license for up to a year.

We can help.  We are here 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. This includes nights, weekends, and holidays. Your case will not defend itself, so why not get the best rated DUI lawyer in Forsyth County, GA? Call Now.

Map to Forsyth County Courthouse

Map to our Forsyth County Office

Forsyth County DUI Resources:

Forsyth County Solicitor General

Forsyth County District Attorney

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

Forsyth County Magistrate Court

Forsyth County Clerk of Court

Forsyth County Wikipedia

Have You Been Arrested for DUI in Forsyth County Georgia?