DUI Defense Lawyers
Experienced Defense For DUI Charges
40+
YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE
Working With DUI Defense Attorneys
A DUI charge in Georgia can mean jail time, a suspended license, and a permanent mark on your record. Wosnik Law, LLC has spent years handling these cases and knows how much is riding on the decisions you make right after arrest.
The path a case takes depends heavily on the facts of the stop, the test results, and how fast you act after arrest. Georgia treats most DUI arrests as misdemeanors, but the penalties still grow with each prior offense.
A conviction cannot later be expunged or sealed, so early decisions in the case carry lasting weight. Acting quickly after arrest, especially within the first 30 days, can protect both your license and your record.
How a DUI Defense Lawyer Can Help You
Losing your license or facing a DUI conviction affects your job, your daily routine, and your record for good. Without quick action, a license suspension becomes automatic and a weak defense can go unchallenged in court. A DUI defense lawyer steps in early to:
- Protect your license through the administrative hearing process
- Challenge weak evidence through motions to suppress
- Negotiate reduced charges such as reckless driving when the case allows for it
Why Choose Wosnik Law, LLC
Wosnik Law, LLC brings more than 40 years of combined experience defending DUI and criminal cases across Georgia. The firm’s attorneys are recognized by the National College for DUI Defense, the State Bar of Georgia, and Avvo, and hold membership with the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. That background means the firm has handled the administrative license hearing process many times over, along with the evidentiary challenges that come with breath test refusals, blood draws, and roadside stops.
The firm handles DUI charges alongside felony charges, drug crimes, theft, fraud, and other criminal defense matters, giving clients a team that understands how a DUI case can intersect with other charges from the same stop. Wosnik Law also serves clients in English and Spanish, so language is never a barrier to understanding your case or your rights.
To learn more about the attorneys handling your case, visit our firm’s background and experience page.
What To Expect In a Georgia DUI Case
A DUI case in Georgia moves on two tracks at once, the license suspension process and the criminal charge itself, and both need attention early.
License Suspension Process
A license suspension can happen three ways: refusing the state administered chemical test, testing at .08 blood alcohol or above, or being convicted of DUI. If you refuse testing, the officer issues a DS-1205 Form, which starts a strict 30 calendar day window to request a hearing with DDS and pay a $150 fee. Hearing requests go through the Georgia Department of Driver Services Administrative License Suspension process, which sets the exact forms and deadlines. Missing that window means an automatic one year hard suspension, with no work or school permit available.
If you request the hearing on time, your license stays valid until the hearing takes place. At the hearing, the State carries the burden to show your suspension should stand. Many cases are resolved through negotiation with the officer at this stage, without ever reaching a full hearing.
Your Options On The Criminal Charge
Beyond the license, your DUI case itself can move in a few directions depending on the facts.
- Pre-trial diversion. First time offenders may qualify in some Walton and Gwinnett County courts, which can end in dismissal after program requirements are met.
- Reduced plea. A negotiated plea to reckless driving avoids the automatic license suspension tied to a DUI conviction.
- Motion to suppress. Where the stop or testing itself raises legal problems, such as an unlawful traffic stop or a roadblock that skipped required procedures, this can remove that evidence from the case entirely.
Repeat Offenses
Repeat offenses carry higher stakes. Georgia counts prior convictions within a 10 year lookback period, so a second or third DUI in that window triggers higher mandatory minimums. A second or third offense within that window can trigger felony DUI defense charges instead of a misdemeanor.
Talk To a DUI Defense Attorney Today
If you were arrested for DUI anywhere in Monroe, Athens, Lawrenceville, or the surrounding counties, time matters. Here is how to protect your case:
- Contact Wosnik Law, LLC as soon as possible after your arrest.
- Bring your DS-1205 Form and any paperwork from the stop to your consultation.
- Let our attorneys review your 30 day window and build your defense strategy.
Schedule your free consultation and let an experienced Georgia trial lawyer take the next steps with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Georgia “30-Day Rule” for DUI arrests?
You have 30 calendar days after arrest to request a hearing and pay the $150 fee, or apply for an interlock permit. Miss both, and DDS suspends your license on the 46th day after arrest.
2. How long does a DUI conviction stay on your record in Georgia?
A DUI conviction stays on your record permanently and cannot be expunged or sealed. Georgia uses a 10 year lookback period only to decide if a new arrest counts as a second or third offense.
3. What happens if I refuse a breath or blood test?
Refusal triggers an automatic one year hard suspension with no work permit available. The refusal cannot be used as a guilty admission at trial, but prosecutors can still mention it to the jury.
4. What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony DUI?
A misdemeanor DUI carries up to one year in jail and fines. A felony DUI applies to repeat offenses within the lookback period or cases involving serious injury.
5. Can a DUI be reduced to a lesser charge?
In many cases, yes. Depending on the evidence, a DUI can sometimes be negotiated down to reckless driving, which avoids the automatic license suspension.
