Atlanta DUI Attorney

DUI in Georgia

DUI, or driving under the influence, is a criminal offense that involves operating a motor vehicle with an unlawful amount of alcohol in one’s system or while one’s abilities are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. While a first-time DUI offender may avoid jail altogether or may only serve a short time behind bars, there are fines and other consequences to consider.

A DUI conviction may also result in:

• Increased insurance rates
• The need for an ignition interlock device in one’s vehicle
• The loss of driving privileges for a year or more.

At Michael Moran & Associates, LLC we work to help clients avoid all of the various consequences of DUI arrests and convictions. Our Atlanta DUI attorneys can handle criminal court proceedings as well as your administrative license suspension (ALS) hearing with the Georgia Department of Driver Services. We will fight to help you keep your license and avoid a conviction.

Georgia DUI Penalties

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence in Georgia it is important to defend your rights because the consequences can be harsh. The penalties for a DUI conviction vary depending on the number of prior DUI convictions within a set period of time.

1st DUI in Georgia

If you are convicted of your first DUI charge, you could face:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Up to $1,000 in fines (minimum $300)
• Suspended license for up to 1 year
• Minimum 40 hours of community service

2nd DUI in Georgia​​​​​​

If convicted of a second DUI, you could face:

• Up to 1 year in jail (48 hours mandatory)
• Up to $1,000 in fines ($600 minimum)
• Suspended license for 3 years
• 240 hours of community service
• Mandatory substance abuse counseling
• Possible Ignition Interlock Device

3rd DUI in Georgia

If convicted of a third DUI charge, you could face:

• Up to 1 year in jail (15 days mandatory)
• Up to $5,000 in fines ($1,000 minimum)
• Suspended license for 5 years
• 240 hours of community service
• Substance abuse treatment
• Possible Ignition Interlock Device

At Michael Moran & Associates, LLC, our dedicated DUI lawyers in Atlanta understand that a DUI can have life-altering consequences. We serve our clients by defending their rights in order to avoid the various consequences a DUI conviction can have.

Aggravated DUI Charges in Georgia

If your DUI charge is upgraded to an aggravated DUI charge you could face even harsher penalties. There are a variety of factors that could warrant an aggravated DUI charge including:

• DUI resulting in the death of another person
• DUI resulting in the injury of another person
• DUI with a child in the car

Georgia Implied Consent Law

When you sign for and receive your driver’s license, you give your consent to submit to chemical testing if you are arrested on suspicion of DUI. This is referred to as “implied consent” and is behind the license suspension associated with DUI arrests.

An unlawful blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater, or a refused breath or blood test, may result in license suspension under Georgia’s implied consent law.

Administrative License Suspension Hearing

You have a limited amount of time to request an administrative license suspension (ALS) hearing with the Georgia Department of Driver Services. You have 30 days from the date of your arrest, and failing to request a hearing within this timeframe may result in the loss of your right to challenge the license suspension.

Make sure you call an Atlanta DUI lawyer as soon as possible if you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence. Early involvement by a skilled Atlanta DUI attorney can make all the difference in whether an effective defense can be mounted on your behalf.