Evan Watson did an excellent job with helping me with a rather lengthy process of a DUI case... On all three accounts, he was able to establish reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. This was all done without me even to have to spend thousands of dollars on expert witnesses... I could not be more satisfied. I would recommend his services to ANYONE. A.G. - ... I was just amazed by how good [E]van knew the laws I mean he could have been a policeman. Really Evan went above and beyond my expectations and I am still in shock at how professional and educated he handles himself in the courtroom. Heck even the bailiff told me my lawyer did an excellent job at defending me. I mean really I have never had anyone in my life defend me or stick up for me the way Evan did that dreadful day,he actually brought a tear to my eye several times the way he was standing up for me ,and i will be forever grateful for this man for the rest of my life. I am so glad I chose him and he will definitely be my lawyer from now on. This not guilty verdict saved my drivers license, my job, my life !!!! B.M.

What is an “Administrative” License Suspension Hearing?

After being arrested for DUI, your Georgia license will be suspended after 30 days from your arrest unless you send a letter to the Department of Driver Services requesting an administrative hearing.   This letter must be sent within 10 days after your arrest.

Georgia’s “10 day letter” effectively puts a stop to your license being suspended, until you have had a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).  These Georgia 1205 or license suspension hearings are a ‘must have’ for drivers who want to keep their driving privileges.

At the hearing, which is usually 30-60 days after you and your lawyer have requested it, your attorney will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the circumstances surrounding your DUI arrest.  The officer that arrested you for DUI will be subpoenaed to the hearing, and if necessary, will be put under oath and subjected to cross examination by your attorney.  In many cases, pre-hearing negotiations between your attorney and the arresting officer will end with some type of settlement in an effort by your attorney to salvage your driver’s license privileges.  If an agreement can be reached at this administrative license hearing, your driver’s license will remain intact while your criminal DUI case proceeds through the court system.  It is critical to retain your driving rights while your case is pending, since many cases will take months and sometimes years to reach a motions hearing or trial, or have a final outcome.

If you’ve been arrested and charged with DUI in Georgia, call me as soon as possible to satisfy Georgia DDS’s requirements to be entitled to your drivers license suspension hearing.  Remember, if you do nothing and miss the 10 day window, your license will automatically be suspended and there is no way to undo this suspension.