In Georgia’s Classic City, if you need a lawyer, you can find criminal lawyers in Athens at multiple law firms in Athens, GA. However, some of the best criminal defense lawyers for impaired driving cases are in the Atlanta area. Read more below.
RED ALERT. First, we must warn you that in almost 100% of DUI arrests in Georgia, you only have 30 days in which to appeal or install an ignition interlock. Call us immediately, so that your time does not run out in protecting your ability to drive. Dial 1-800-462-8222 24-hours-a-day.
Who Is The Top-Rated DUI Attorney in Athens, Georgia?
Bubba Head, who began his legal career in June of 1976 as an Athens criminal defense attorney was a leader in DUI court victories among criminal lawyers in Athens GA when he relocated to Atlanta GA in 1990. Significantly, he is the only DUI attorney in America to ever be named as the “best in the USA” by the National College for DUI Defense. [See the trophy in this image captured in July 2003].
The decision of the DUI attorney Athens GA to move occurred after reading an Atlanta Journal article that revealed that a very high percentage of the State’s cases (41% of all Georgia arrests) of driving under the influence cases in the 4 metro counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb Counties.
Having honed his courtroom skills in Athens and surrounding counties, Mr. Head was busy writing his first book, 101 Ways to Avoid a Drunk Driving Conviction, which was published in January of 1991, a month after relocating to Atlanta. That book was one of more than 15 legal books that he co-authored or wrote as the sole author.
Yet, once in Atlanta, he always took any Athens arrests for drunk driving or drugged driving, because Athens was “home” to him after getting his undergrad degree (1973) and his law degree (1976) from UGA. For several years, Mr. Head’s law office overlooked College Square and the UGA Arch, in the same building that the historic Mayflower Restaurant once occupied for many decades, in the old Colonial Hotel building.
Winning a Real Athens DUI Case for an 8th DUI Offender
Among the many cases Mr. Head took (after moving away to Atlanta) included an 8th DUI offender whose Athens DUI lawyer recommended a guilty plea to drunken driving and only serve 60 days in jail. The accused man did not believe that the accident was his fault and contacted Mr. Head for a second opinion about his case.
Because his guilty plea was set to happen the following week, this effort to review the extensive evidence took up all of Mr. Head’s free time that weekend. Mr. Head ultimately took over the DUI case from a low-cost criminal law attorney in Athens, GA. Mr. Head refused to take the case until he looked over all the State’s evidence, so a smaller amount was charged to review the case, with an agreement that the balance of the fee would be due immediately, if Mr. Head was going to take over the defense.
The client originally had hired this attorney because his fee was low. Once retained for the limited purpose of reviewing the case evidence, Mr. Head then watched 12 police body camera recordings, since many police officers were trying to locate his vehicle.
These recordings were about the alleged crash on the Athens Bypass. They also showed the client’s arrest at a home several miles away. This work took over 10 hours, but it was crucial for winning the case. He called the potential client and gave him the good and bad news, which was that if he was hiring Mr. Head the full fee was due ASAP.
Mr. Head then immediately filed several new motions in the case, including a demand for a speedy jury trial, which was set by then Chief Judge Ethelyn N. Simpson for next available Monday that had prospective jurors reporting for jury duty, which was 2 weeks later. Upon getting his copy of the specially set trial, the prosecutor was a bit shell-shocked because the prior lawyer had been begging for a favorable plea deal for a DUI. When he called Mr. Head, he said that that “deal” for only 60 days to serve was now off the table, which Mr. Head knew would happen.
It turned out later that the prosecutor assigned to the case had only read the police report and had not watched a single video, much less the full 10 hours. Once he finally did, he “threw in the towel” and sheepishly offered a reduction.
On the morning that had been set as the trial date, Mr. Head ultimately got that DUI 8th offense case dropped to reckless driving. Not only did this allow the client to keep driving (and save his job) but now that client did not have to serve a single day of jail time.
What Over 90% of DUI Police Encounters Result in Needless Self-Incrimination
DUI cases largely involve police testimony, roadside tests, and chemical analysis. No one should take field sobriety tests in Georgia. View Mr. Head’s short video to “educate” yourself.
Roadside exercises seen on TV or YouTube are entirely optional. After being cuffed and arrested, REMAIN SILENT, and if you submit to the Officer’s testing, demand to be taken to a local hospital and pay to have your private blood test gathered, for your own use.
Why DUI in Georgia is So Serious: Our Legal Team Answers
In Georgia, driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a grave offense. A first-time DUI conviction can result in severe consequences, such as a PERMANENT criminal record, suspension of your driver’s license, and potential imprisonment. This article focuses on FIRST offenses, because over 75% of all DUI arrests in Georgia are for a DUI 1st offense.
- Fines between $300 and $1,000 for that first DUI conviction
- Jail time from 24 hours to 12 months, when the BAC level is 0.08 grams percent. Whatever part of the 12 months after a case is resolved as a DUI, you will be on probation, minus any jail days served.
- At least 40 hours of community service for adult-age drivers
- Being required attendance at an approved DUI school in Georgia for 20 hours, called the “risk reduction” program
- A LIFETIME DUI conviction that can Never be Removed or “age off” that Person’s Record. You Take it to the GRAVE!
The following U.S. states and the District of Columbia do not ever allow a DUI (or DWI, OVI, OWI) conviction or a nolo contendere plea for a DUI offense to be sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted under any circumstances. If convicted in these jurisdictions, the DUI will remain permanently on your criminal record:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Oregon
- District of Columbia (D.C.)
These states have statutory prohibitions that make no distinction for first-time offenses, age, or time elapsed; the conviction stays on your record for life. In D.C., specifically, a conviction for DUI, DWI, or OWI is considered an ineligible misdemeanor and cannot be sealed or expunged from your criminal history for any reason.
The repercussions of a first DUI offense extend beyond these immediate penalties, affecting employment prospects, insurance premiums, and personal relationships. Many job opportunities are lost once an employer learns of a prior DUI conviction.
Nevertheless, an adept DUI attorney can assist in mitigating or dismissing your charges. A seasoned lawyer will provide both legal guidance and emotional support during this challenging period whether this is a criminal defense attorney Athens GA or any other Georgia lawyer who has learned how to get a DUI dropped to reckless driving.
Cory Yager, an ex-police officer for nearly a decade, has been an ultra-successful DUI defense attorney Georgia since 2007. These two client ratings on AVVO testifies to his remarkable skill level:
Also, another law partner of William Head, Larry Kohn, has been with Mr. Head since completing his first year of Law School, in 1996. He passed the Georgia Bar and began litigating DUI cases in 1998, and has thousands of cases under his belt at this time.
Some of Mr. Kohn’s AVVO reviews show prior client words of appreciation. If he is selected to be your Athens GA DUI attorney, his marching orders will be to “find a way to win.” So, if you find any Athens attorneys with better AVVO ratings, hire that criminal attorney in Athens GA.
If you have read enough to know that you want this type of aggressive representation, make your phone call to 1-800-462-8222 (which spells 1-800-GO-BUBBA). The PHONE CALL is FREE, and the LEGAL ADVICE is FREE! We can set up a ZOOM call if you prefer that method of communicating.
Our three law partners co-author Georgia’s leading book on DUI defense in the Peach State. The book was originally written by Mr. Head in 1995, and self-published it.
But today the world’s largest legal publisher (Thomson-Reuters) owns the annual publishing rights to the book. Mr. Kohn and Mr. Yager now handle the updates and the appendices in the book as the laws on impaired diving changes, with Mr. Head also assisting.
What are You Waiting For? Talk to the Guys Who Write the Leading Law Book on DUI Defense
A DUI conviction can significantly impact both your personal and professional life. Having a criminal record might negatively influence your employment opportunities, as many employers hesitate to hire individuals with DUI backgrounds. Additionally, you will face increased automobile insurance premiums, straining your financial situation.
Nevertheless, fighting a case often can mitigate these consequences by obtaining a non-DUI disposition. An experienced DUI attorney from our Firm will diligently work to safeguard your rights and can assist in minimizing the repercussions of a DUI conviction on your life, regardless of whether this might be a 3rd DUI in GA, or 2nd offense DUI Georgia. Dial our 24-hour number, 1-800-462-8222, to get started on your effort to undo this legal mess.
Our criminal law defense attorneys can quickly reach over 350 different criminal law courts in Georgia within ninety minutes or less, including Athens. Below are some links to other pages within this website that you may want to read.
More Athens, GA DUI Attorney Resources
If you’d like to learn more about our Athens DUI lawyers, read some of our informative articles below.