Woodbine DUI Lawyer

Woodbine DUI Attorney

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia, it’s critical to understand your rights as well as the next steps to take to mitigate the penalties you can face. DUIs can lead to serious consequences for your reputation, your career, and your relationships, among other things. By working with a Woodbine DUI lawyer, you can develop a strategy that secures a fair outcome for your case.

At the offices of Jarrett Maillet J.D., P.C., we have experience representing clients with charges at every level, including first, second, and third offenses and felony DUIs. We’re confident we can utilize our skills and resources to fight for you and help you secure the optimal outcome for your case.

What Happens After a DUI Arrest in Woodbine

After you’re arrested for a DUI in Woodbine, you can expect to be taken into police custody to either be booked or processed. This process involves gathering your personal information, recording information about the incident, and performing a record search to check out your background.

Once you’re at the station, you can expect to be searched, have your belongings confiscated and inventoried, and have your fingerprints taken. At this point, you can contact a family member or a Woodbine DUI lawyer.

Penalties for DUI in Woodbine, GA

After you receive your first DUI offense, you can expect to be charged with a misdemeanor. A first-time DUI conviction can bring with it possible jail time, but it’s more likely that you will be required to complete some form of probation instead.

Your license is likely to be suspended for up to one year. However, you can apply to have it reinstated after 120 days, so long as you complete the required alcohol or drug risk reduction program and follow any other requirements.

A second DUI charge can lead to higher penalties and fees, including jail time and increasingly stricter requirements. A third DUI conviction includes a mandatory jail sentence, though the exact length of sentencing depends on your specific case.

The court may also require that you install an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle, which requires you to test your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) before, and sometimes while, driving.

Although most first-offense DUIs are misdemeanors, it’s possible for your charge to be increased to a felony DUI, depending on the circumstances. For example, if you receive four DUIs within 10 years, you can expect it to become a felony DUI. Other aggravating factors can turn a DUI into a felony charge, including:

• Causing an accident
• Damaging vehicles, roadways, or other property
• Injuring or causing the death of a bystander
• Having an extremely high BAC

How Can a Woodbine DUI Lawyer Help?

Being arrested for DUI doesn’t automatically mean you’re being convicted. A Woodbine DUI lawyer understands the confines of the law and can help gather evidence that gives you a fair chance during your case.

In 2021, there were 291 alcohol-related fatalities involving motor vehicles in Georgia, including 175 in urban areas and 116 in rural regions. Even if a DUI doesn’t end in a fatality, it can lead to serious injuries to the driver and others on the road. In fact, about three percent of all 911 calls in Georgia were related to motor vehicle accidents involving emergency medical services (EMS).

To top it off, DUI drivers can cause serious damage to vehicles, property, roadways, and more. All in all, the consequences of driving under the influence are plentiful. On average, Camden County deputies average about five DUI arrests per weekend. That said, not every arrest is handled properly.

A Woodbine DUI lawyer can fight on your behalf against unfair or unlawful DUI arrests. With the help of a skilled defense attorney, you may be able to face lower charges even if you are proven guilty.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is a Bond for a DUI in Woodbine?

A: Your bond amount after a DUI arrest can vary depending on the severity of your charges and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Your criminal history and DUI record, specifically, can also play a part in how they set your bond. For example, you can expect a higher bond if it’s not your first DUI offense or if you caused an accident or some other form of damage due to reckless driving.

Q: What Is Georgia’s Implied Consent Law?

A: Many states adhere to an implied consent law, which essentially requires drivers to submit to state-administered chemical tests to determine if a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The law states that people give their consent to undergo these tests as a stipulation for getting their license. While you are still allowed to refuse testing, you can expect your driver’s license to be suspended for at least one year.

Q: How Long Is My License Suspended if I Get a DUI in Woodbine?

A: For a first-offense DUI (or the first offense within the last five years), you can expect your driver’s license to be suspended for 12 months. However, you can apply for reinstatement after 120 days as long as you can present a certificate of completion for a Department of Driver Services (DDS)-approved alcohol or drug risk reduction program and can pay all reinstatement fees and other payments.

Q: Is It Hard to Beat a DUI Charge in Woodbine?

A: It can be challenging to beat a DUI charge in Woodbine, especially if law enforcement was able to collect ample evidence against you. That said, it’s possible to have charges reduced or even dismissed with evidence stacked against you. To do this, you must be able to prove that some part of your arrest was unlawful or your sobriety tests were compromised in some way. A Georgia DUI lawyer can help you build a defense that works in your favor.

Contact a Woodbine DUI Lawyer to Learn More About Your Options

Our team at the offices of Jarrett Maillet J.D., P.C. understands the laws and regulations in place and can offer you a strategy that gets you the optimal outcome for your case. Contact our office to set up an appointment with a Woodbine DUI lawyer today.