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In an attempt to cut down on driving under the influence (DUI), the law clamps down on young people suspected of drunk driving. To avoid a DUI Per Se charge, a test of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be less than 0.08 grams for those 21 and over. For teens and young adults who are below the legal drinking age, this number drops to 0.02 grams. Some individuals can exceed that level with a single drink, even if they are not cognitively impaired.

When you or a loved one faces DUI charges—especially if this is your first time in trouble—you may have many questions. A Kennesaw DUI lawyer can guide you and your family through this challenging time and help you move past it in the best way possible. Reach out to our firm today to speak with a trusted defense attorney about the details of your situation and discover if our team can help.

Building a DUI Defense

Regardless of the alleged criminal act, our team approaches defense strategies from a place of understanding. We want to know your concerns regarding the effect a DUI charge could have on you or your loved one’s life. This information helps us provide you with the best options for mitigating those concerns and achieving the best outcome for your unique situation.

Our seasoned Kennesaw DUI attorneys will work to understand your goals, gather evidence, and investigate your case so that we can help you develop a strategic plan to help you keep your life on track. This plan could include representation in negotiations with the prosecutor, challenging or fighting against criminal charges, or a combination of both approaches.

We will carefully examine the specific elements of your charge or arrest, including:

• What officers should or should not do during a traffic stop and whether they did or did not do these things
• Whether officers had a legitimate reason to perform a traffic stop (or other initial contact with law enforcement)
• The accuracy of the field sobriety evaluation and other tests to determine BAC
• Whether Georgia’s implied consent laws were appropriately applied
• Your driving, appearance, speech patterns, and other mannerisms during interactions with police

Throughout this process, our goal is to minimize the short-term penalties and long-term negative consequences of a DUI charge and empower you to choose which options are best to help you move forward.

Administrative License Suspension

When someone is pulled over under the suspicion of driving under the influence, law enforcement can initiate an Administrative License Suspension (ALS). An ALS usually occurs when the police officer seizes the driver’s license of the young person arrested, or charged with a DUI at the scene of the traffic stop, resulting in a license suspension before conviction. An ALS can take place regardless of whether the individual agrees to chemical testing or refuses chemical testing. The driver has 30 days to appeal this suspension or in some cases, can request an ignition interlock device. There may be strategic reasons to appeal or not appeal this suspension, based upon the type of suspension and your goals.  This short time limit makes promptly seeking legal representation from a trusted advocate crucial.

First-Time DUI Offense Penalties

The law distinguishes between people younger than 17—who will generally have their DUI cases adjudicated in juvenile court—and those 17 and older, who will be tried as adults. In both instances, a conviction will stay on someone’s state driving history. Juvenile court judges are tasked with ruling what is best for rehabilitating the young person. Conversely, people who are convicted as adults may face more serious consequences as well as having charges on their criminal record for the rest of their lives.

While a DUI is often charged as a misdemeanor, multiple offenses can result in felony penalties. Even a first-time conviction carries mandatory probation, community service, driver’s license suspension, treatment programs, fines, and possibly jail time. In addition, a DUI conviction can bring many consequences beyond the courtroom, including lost work, financial, educational, and even personal opportunities.

Our Kennesaw attorneys believe one mistake should not follow a young person around for the rest of their life. Our team will work hard alongside you to minimize the damage a DUI arrest can have on your future.

Unique Risks for College Students

Young people attending colleges and universities must comply with their schools’ Code of Conduct. If a student is convicted of a crime, the school administration can determine its own punishment. Students can be expelled, put on probation, suspended for a semester or more, and lose their scholarships and grants. This can have a major impact on your future, so it is important to work with a lawyer to prevent that from happening.

Let a Kennesaw DUI Attorney Protect Your Rights

DUI charges are complex, and minimizing the impact of DUI accusations on young and underage drivers requires legal representation with experience and understanding. A Kennesaw DUI lawyer and their team can provide you with the guidance you need to make informed decisions regarding your future while protecting your best interests and working to lessen the future impacts of a potential criminal charge.

You are more than your mistake. When you or a loved one is facing DUI charges, call Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm to schedule a consultation, so we can determine if you are a good fit for our firm and so you can determine if our team is a good fit for you.