Villa Rica DUI Lawyer

Villa Rica DUI Lawyer – Villa Rica DUI Attorney

Who We Are

The Law Office of Richard Lawson is a Georgia legal firm that is dedicated to DUI Defense. Richard Lawson is a former DUI prosecutor with over 25 years' experience in Georgia DUI law. Please see his reviews on Avvo and contact our office for a free case evaluation.

Thirty-Day Warning!

If you have been arrested for DUI in Villa Rica, or elsewhere in Carroll County, you should know you only have thirty days from the date of your arrest to file an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing or request an ignition interlock device to save your license from suspension. The cost to file is $150. If the hearing or interlock device is not requested by you or your Villa Rica DUI Lawyer, your Georgia driver's license will automatically be suspended.

If you've been accused of refusing the State's chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine, your Georgia driver's license will be suspended for one full year with no opportunity for a limited license or early reinstatement.

What Do Police Officers Look For?

Law enforcement officers are trained to detect DUI and observe particular driving characteristics to make a legal stop of a motorist suspected of DUI. The training the officer receives is often based on standards that have been set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Clues they look for include: weaving, swerving, quick braking, rapid acceleration or deceleration, crossing the center line of traffic, driving without headlights on, illegal or sudden turns, tailgating, slow reacting to traffic lights, or other physical mannerisms that would indicate intoxication. Also, it is not uncommon for police officers to sit near bars and clubs waiting for everyone to leave at closing time.

When Can I Be Pulled Over?

You may be pulled over for any moving violation such as speeding, improper turn, texting, or seatbelt violation. Also an officer may pull you over if they have reasonable articulable suspicion that you may be committing a crime, including driving under the influence.

What Should I Do if Get Pulled Over for DUI?

If you are stopped by the police and believe there is suspicion that you are driving under the influence, your goal should be to provide the officer with as little evidence against you as possible. If you are asked if you have been drinking and if you cannot truthfully say you have had nothing to drink, the best thing to do is to decline to answer the question. You have the right to remain silent—use it.

Should I Take Field Sobriety Tests?

No, simply politely decline. Despite what the police may tell you, field sobriety tests are not mandatory. If you decide to take these tests, your performance will most likely be used against you. Field sobriety tests are subjective and scored arbitrarily by law enforcement, and most people are unable to perform them even when stone cold sober. Taking these tests will only help the prosecution build a stronger case against you.

Do I Really Need a DUI Lawyer?

It is always possible to represent yourself; but because DUI penalties are quite stiff, there is much that an experienced Villa Rica DUI Lawyer can do for you that you may not know how to do yourself. Things such as suppressing evidence, obtaining a dismissal, negotiating a reduced sentence, discovery, analyzing field sobriety and chemical tests, and securing experts to testify on your behalf are just some of the things a skilled Villa Rica DUI Attorney can do for you that you more than likely cannot. A Villa Rica DUI Lawyer from the Law Office of Richard Lawson is also experienced in contesting issues during your ALS hearing.

DUI cases involve complex procedural rules, a presentation of evidence, and protecting your precious constitutional rights. To represent yourself effectively, you must be well versed in following and applying particular guidelines. Therefore, it is always wise to put your DUI case in the hands of a seasoned Villa Rica DUI Attorney.

Villa Rica Municipal Court

The Municipal Court of Villa Rica is responsible for handling ordinance and traffic violations that occur within the city limits of Villa Rica. The Honorable Scott Camp is the Municipal Court Judge, and Amanda Honea is the Municipal Court Clerk. Michael L. Hubbard is the Solicitor. Court is held next to the Villa Rica Police Department at 101 Main Street, Villa Rica, GA 30180.

A small part of Villa Rica is in Douglas County. A case arising from that part of Villa Rica will still go to municipal court. However, if a person requests a jury trial, in those limited circumstances, the case would go to to Douglas County State Court. As a result, sometimes the decision to bind a case over to State Court depends on whether the case would be going to Carroll County State Court or Douglas County State Court. Please call (678) 840-1318 for more Villa Rica Municipal Court information.

Map to Villa Rica Municipal Court

Villa Rica DUI Defense That Never Rests

Our Villa Rica DUI Lawyers know that when you have been arrested for DUI, you need a strong defense from skilled and results driven from legal professionals who will do everything within their power to craft the best defense possible for your case.

Our goal is to give our clients the best legal advice possible. The Villa Rica DUI Attorneys with our office make sure they communicate with their clients often to keep them informed about their case and answer any questions they may have. They work hard to provide, in an organized way, an effort to analyze, prepare, and deliver a robust and aggressive DUI defense for each of our clients. Although we cannot promise or guarantee a particular outcome for your case, you can be assured that we will work to obtain the best possible outcome for you. When you need a DUI Lawyer in Villa Rica, choose the best. Choose the Law Office of Richard Lawson.

Recent Case Results

This case was in Helen Municipal Court. The client was charged with a DUI and four counts of DUI Child Endangerment. In Georgia, for every child under the age of 14 in a vehicle it is considered a separate DUI offense. The client would have been declared an habitual violator from one arrest an... Read On
Client was charged with a suspended license because he did not reinstate his privilege to drive after the expiration of his restricted license. Per my advice, the client properly reinstated his license the day after he was charged. Case Dismissed in Cobb County State Court. Read On
Client was a resident of New York who was arrested while he was visiting Georgia for pleasure. He was charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Speeding 37 MPH over the speed limit. We were able to get the client an unbelievable outcome in Hampton, Georgia. His DUI dismissed, his speeding ticket wa... Read On

Recommendations

DUI WITH HIGH BAC (.112) LOWERED TO RECKLESS DRIVING!

Richard was not the first lawyer I spoke with after my DUI charge, but he was the last when searching for representation. This was my very first time encountering any sort of legal dispute so I had no idea what I was doing and I was very scared. Richard was very friendly, down to earth and consol... Read On
Miracle Worker!

Not only did Richard Lawson and his very capable associate get my DUI reduced to reckless driving with parole, but he did something that I didn't think was possible. I was stopped for a moving violation recently. The police arrested me because they showed my driver's license had been suspended. H... Read On
Ideal attorney for anyone

Mr. Lawson is outstanding. He was professional, attentive to any requests, and got the outcome I wanted but thought was unachievable. I had been arrested for a DUI. The case was very difficult, intricate, and was seemingly without hope, but Mr. Lawson was able to get the charges drastically reduc... Read On