Being arrested for DUI can be an immensely stressful experience, tarnish your reputation, increase insurance premiums and possibly lead to jail time.
Hiring an Atlanta DUI attorney with extensive knowledge and experience to defend your future is essential. Jim Yeargan was once a police academy instructor himself and has extensive training in DUI investigations.
1. They Did Not Have the Right to Stop You
As frightening and stressful as being stopped by police on the side of the road may be, when they start asking you questions it’s important to exercise your right to remain silent and do not incriminate yourself by answering anything they ask for.
An Atlanta DUI lawyer can assess an incident to identify any discrepancies in its traffic stop or evidence collection process, such as any errors officers committed when administering field sobriety tests or challenging chemical test results.
Your Atlanta DUI lawyer will collect evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies, bar or restaurant surveillance video footage, medical records, or anything else available, that will assist in your defense hearing and prove the officer made mistakes that resulted in improper arrests or missing or inaccurate evidence. Furthermore, this helps demonstrate objectively reasonable mistakes by officers; such as pulling someone over for having one working brake light as an example.
2. They Did Not Have the Right to Arrest You
Police must adhere to stringent legal standards when stopping drivers, failing to do so could have serious repercussions.
An experienced Atlanta DUI attorney will conduct a comprehensive analysis of your evidence, such as breath test results, to find flaws that might result in dismissing charges against you. They may file motions to weaken the prosecution’s case and shift leverage in your favor.
3. They Did Not Have the Right to Test You
Every officer, even those with decades of experience, makes at least one error that leads to an arrest. It is not unusual for an officer to put the wrong person under arrest when just given vague descriptions or arriving on scene unexpectedly.
An experienced DUI attorney can review police reports and test results to identify mistakes that were made during your DUI investigation or arrest, such as improperly administering field sobriety tests, failing to calibrate radar or laser equipment correctly or mishandling breath or blood tests.
James Yeargan of Atlanta DUI attorneys have received advanced training in field sobriety tests, breath alcohol testing, crime lab blood testing and field sobriety defense strategies. With this expertise they are equipped to identify errors in these testing procedures and build strong defenses to have your case dismissed or reduced. Furthermore, they can assist you in requesting an ALS hearing within 30 days after your arrest (an important legal procedure that can impact your license over time), negotiate with the prosecutor and reach a favorable resolution to your case.
4. They Did Not Have the Right to Arrest You
Some officers arrest drivers without legal probable cause or justifiable cause; this could be done out of suspicion or due to witness testimony. Officers need objective, tangible evidence to justify an arrest in Georgia.
An Atlanta DUI lawyer may file legal motions to suppress evidence obtained during a DUI investigation, such as field sobriety test results influenced by officer interpretation or Breathalyzer test results that were improperly calibrated. They can also identify mitigating factors which might reduce charges or penalties.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer with expertise in DUI cases can also work hard to preserve your right to drive through an administrative license suspension action. This separate legal procedure takes place prior to the conclusion of your criminal case and can have lasting ramifications if not properly addressed. James Yeargan has successfully represented numerous clients facing license suspension in Atlanta DUI cases and can help guide them through this complex process and fight to preserve your driving privileges.
