On the other hand, your case may be one where the State’s evidence is admissable and we may decide that a judge or jury trial may be risky.  In such instances, we may be able to negotiate a favorable plea bargain to keep you out of jail or to other minimize the negative consequences of a DUI conviction.

What factors come into play when we negotiate a DUI plea bargain.  There are no published statistics to answer this but DUI defense lawyers around the country generally find similarities in their experiences.

Ohio DUI lawyer Brad Koffel posted a list of the top ten risk factors that hurt his chances at negotiating a plea bargain.  Brad’s list is not exhaustive but I agree with him that the more of these factors that apply in your case, the more difficult it will be to negotiate the most favorable terms of a plea bargain.  Here are the factors that attorney Koffel identifies:

1. Car Accidents
2. Blood Tests
3. Breath Tests
4. Urine Tests
5. Video showing an impaired client
6. State patrol hotline calls about our client
7. Client or passenger statements tantamount to confessions of being DUI
8. Rudeness & belligerence towards police officers
9. The county the DUI arrest occurred
10. Prior Convictions for DUI

Rest assured that even if your case seems hopeless, my job as your DUI defense lawyer is to identify each and every weakness of the State’s case and to guide you regarding steps you can take to help your chances.

I have found that clients accused of the most serious DUI offenses need representation even more than first time offenders with limited alcohol impairment.  I have yet to see a case where even a repeat offender with several of these risk factors does not have some redeeming character attribute that can help his case.  I therefore urge you not to just give up if the case against you looks bleak.

[tags] repeat DUI charges Georgia, DUI plea bargain Georgia [/tags]

This Motion is for the use of criminal defense lawyers only and carries with it no warranties or guarantees of any kind. Attorneys who use or modify this Motion do so at their own risk.

[tags] DUI Motion, Intoxilyzer 5000 discovery motion, Guy Sharpe [/tags]

Guy Sharpe’s response: The maximum punishment for DUI, which is a misdemeanor, is one year in jail and a $1,000.00 fine. Usually plea negotiations result in the lesser included offenses being merged into the DUI, such as reckless driving, speeding and others. The DUI record will always be there, so it could affect your son’s ability to obtain certain kinds of employment and may affect his ability to get scholarships to go to school.

[tags] Georgia DUI, Georgia DUI under 21, DUI sentence, DUI punishment [/tags]

–Guy

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