DUI & Traffic Violations

• When facing a DUI charge, speeding ticket or other traffic violation it is important to understand your rights and know what you are up against
• A DUI conviction carries stiff penalties, social stigma and can even cost you your job
• Speeding tickets and other traffic citations can be reduced or dismissed to limit driver points and prevent your insurance rates from skyrocketing
• An experienced attorney can save you time, money, and inconvenience by getting the charges against you reduced or dismissed
• If you have received a DUI or other traffic citation, contact the Stewart Law Office today

Driving Under The Influence (DUI)

You don’t have to be falling down drunk to get charged with a DUI. The majority of people charged with this offense did not believe that they were impaired when they got behind the wheel. But even a few drinks can result in you being over the legal limit and at risk. Even if you blow under the legal limit, you can be charged with DUI-Less Safe if the officer feels your ability to drive was impaired. Drugs and medications, even if prescribed by a doctor, can impair your ability to drive and result in a DUI arrest.

If you have been charged with a DUI, you have the right to contest it. An experienced attorney can argue effectively for the best possible result by challenging the following:

• The constitutional validity of the traffic stop
• How the field sobriety tests were administered and how the results are interpreted
• What the officer tells you, and doesn’t tell you, about your rights under Georgia DUI law
• Whether you were properly informed of your rights regarding the state sponsored breath test
• How the state breath test was administered, was the test operator properly trained, and was the machine in proper working order

The Mandatory 1st DUI Conviction Penalties Are Severe

• 12 months probation with monthly probation supervision fees
• Fines up to $1000 plus court costs
• 40 hours of community service
• DUI Risk Reduction classes
• Minimum 24 hours in county jail

These are the minimum penalties required by Georgia law. Many courts impose much higher punishments, even for first time offenders. And in the event you are convicted of a second or third DUI (measured in the last 10 years), there are additional penalties including substantially higher fines, more community service, alcohol counseling, and increased jail time. You will be required to have your photo published in the local newspaper announcing your DUI conviction and you may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car for 6 months. A fourth DUI conviction can be a felony and punishable by up to five years in prison

If you have been charged with a DUI, contact The Stewart Law Office for a free consultation. We can assess the facts of your case, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and work with you to get the best possible results.

Traffic Violations

You were going a little too fast. You were following a little too close. You thought the light was yellow.

Everyone commits traffic violations at some point in their lives, but the officer just stopped you. Now you are looking at a big fine, missing work to go to court, and your insurance rates soaring. What can you do?

With minor violations, you can always just admit guilt and send a check. However, a lot of times that ends up costing you in the long run. Speeding tickets can often be negotiated to a lower speed which results in fewer points on your driver’s license or even in the ticket not being reported at all. This can save you years of higher insurance premiums. Some license and vehicle registration violations can be dismissed if you can correct the error prior to your court date. An experienced attorney knows how to negotiate and argue for the best possible results and can save you time and money.

More serious traffic violations, such as Reckless Driving, Driving with a Suspended License or Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, carry large fines, up to a year on probation, and mandatory jail time. The consequences of a conviction can be devastating. For many people, losing driving privileges, even temporarily, could cost them their job. If you have been charged with a serious traffic offense, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact The Stewart Law Office today for a free consultation. We handle most traffic offenses including: