Effectively Navigate DUI Charges with Proven
Metro Atlanta DUI Lawyers
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to be the best person they can be — without the judgment that can follow a DUI charge.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with DUI in Metro Atlanta or North Georgia, you may be feeling overwhelmed right now. We help people in their teens and twenties fight DUI charges and protect their futures. Contact us immediately.
You know what’s at stake. This isn’t just about fines or court dates — it’s about your ability to drive to work or school, your goals, and your future.
One mistake shouldn’t define the rest of your life.
If you’re in your teens or twenties, a DUI charge can feel different. Whether you’re still in school, just starting your career, or working toward a promotion, this situation can touch every part of your life. You may be worried about your scholarship, your college admissions, your job, or your ability to get to work.
These aren’t just legal problems — they’re life problems.
Our law firm has been defending people in their teens and twenties facing DUI charges throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia since 2007. We understand the pressure you may be under, and we’re here to help you navigate this.
Not all DUI charges are the same. In Georgia, you could be facing one of several different types of DUI charges, and the type of charge affects both the potential consequences and the defense strategies available to you.
This is the most common type of DUI charge. It applies when a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher (or 0.02% or higher for drivers under 21). The prosecution relies on the chemical test result itself to prove the charge.
You can be charged with DUI Less Safe even if your BAC was below 0.08% — or if there was no chemical test at all. The prosecution tries to prove that alcohol or drugs made you a “less safe” driver based on the officer’s observations and other evidence.
Georgia has a “zero tolerance” law for drivers under 21. A BAC of just 0.02% can lead to a DUI Per Se charge under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(k). The consequences for underage DUI are different from those for drivers 21 and older.
You can be charged with DUI for driving under the influence of any drug — including prescription medications, marijuana, or other controlled substances — if the substance impaired your ability to drive safely.
Marijuana DUI cases are handled differently than alcohol DUIs because there is no legal “per se” limit for THC in Georgia. These cases often rely on officer observations and field sobriety tests, which can make them more defensible.
If the officer believed you were impaired by a combination of alcohol and drugs, you could face a combination DUI charge. The prosecution must prove that the combination of substances made you a less safe driver.
Each type of DUI charge has different elements the prosecution must prove and different defense strategies that may apply. Understanding what you’re facing is the first step.
Here’s something many people don’t realize: if the officer initiated an administrative license suspension, you may have only 30 days to take action to prevent automatic suspension when your 45-day temporary permit expires.
Whether to request an ALS hearing or explore other options is a strategic decision that depends on your specific circumstances. In some cases, requesting a hearing can help your case. In other circumstances, it may not be the right move. This is a decision best made after consulting with a legal team who can review all the details of your situation.
Contact us today so we can help you understand your options before this deadline passes.
For a first DUI offense in most cases, a conviction in Georgia can carry serious consequences.
If your BAC was 0.08% or higher, you may be facing a minimum of 24 hours in jail (up to 12 months), 12 months of probation minus any time served, a license suspension for up to 12 months, a mandatory DUI Risk Reduction Program, 40 hours of community service, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, as well as a permanent criminal record.
If you were charged with DUI Less Safe — meaning no BAC test or a BAC below 0.08% — there is no mandatory minimum jail time, but you could still face up to 12 months in jail along with the other consequences listed above.
For drivers under 21 charged under Georgia’s zero tolerance law (BAC of 0.02% to under 0.08%), the penalties are different. A first conviction carries a six-month license suspension with no limited permit available.
But here’s the thing: a charge is not a conviction.
With the right defense strategy, there may be options available to protect your future. Every case is different, and the outcome depends on the specific facts and circumstances involved.
One thing that catches many people off guard is that a DUI charge in Georgia actually involves two separate proceedings that run at the same time.
The first is the administrative side, which is handled through the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). This deals with your driving privileges — specifically, whether your license will be suspended. If the officer initiated an administrative license suspension, this process begins immediately and has its own deadlines and procedures that are separate from your criminal case.
The second is the criminal case, which goes through the court system. This is where the DUI charge itself is handled — arraignment, discovery, motions hearings, negotiations, and potentially trial. The outcome of the criminal case determines whether you are convicted and what sentence you may face.
These two tracks can affect each other. Decisions you make on one side can have consequences for the other. That is why it’s important to work with a legal team that understands both processes and can help you make strategic decisions that consider the full picture.
Our approach depends entirely on your goals.
Some people want to fight the case and push for dismissal. Others want to avoid jail time and protect their ability to drive. Some are most worried about specific consequences — like their scholarship, their career, or their immigration status.
We don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. The strategy we develop with you is based on what matters most to you.
Here’s how we work:
Then we work with you to develop a strategy that aligns with your goals.
Police need a legal reason to pull you over. If the stop was illegal, the evidence that follows may be thrown out. We review dashboard and body camera footage and examine whether the officer had reasonable suspicion for the stop.
These tests are subjective and can be unreliable. Nervousness, medical conditions, uneven surfaces, and inappropriate footwear all affect performance. We challenge how these tests were administered and whether they were properly conducted.
Whether it is a blood, breath, urine, or other test result that is used as evidence against you, we look to see if it was lawfully obtained. That might include challenging your consent, Georgia’s implied consent notice, or a search warrant.
Breathalyzer machines must be properly calibrated and maintained. Officers must follow specific procedures. Medical conditions like GERD or diabetes can affect results. We examine calibration records, operator training, and testing procedures.
Blood tests can have chain of custody issues, lab errors, improper storage, or contamination problems. We scrutinize the blood testing process to look for issues that could affect the reliability of the results.
Body camera and dashcam footage can tell a very different story from the officer’s written report. We carefully review all available video evidence for inconsistencies or details that support your defense.
If police violated your constitutional rights during the stop, arrest, or questioning, we can use that to challenge the evidence against you.
Certain substances and conditions can cause alcohol to linger in your mouth and produce a falsely high breath test reading. Mouthwash, medications, dental work, and even acid reflux can all contribute to mouth alcohol contamination. We examine whether proper observation periods were followed before the breath test was administered.
Whether you’re a student at Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, or Emory — or you’re building your career in Metro Atlanta — a DUI charge can create problems beyond the courtroom.
You may be dealing with student conduct proceedings, scholarship eligibility reviews, campus housing concerns, internship complications, employment impacts, or worries about future job applications and promotions. Each of these situations is different, and the right approach depends on your specific circumstances.
We understand how to coordinate your defense in the criminal justice system while also considering the impact on your academic or professional life.
If you’re dealing with a DUI charge, you may be feeling scared, angry, or confused. That’s understandable. A DUI charge can be overwhelming.
But you don’t have to face this alone.
Our legal team has helped hundreds of people in their teens and twenties fight DUI charges throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. We understand what you may be going through, and we’re here to help.
Contact us today to discuss your situation. We’ll review what happened, explain your options, and see if working together is a good fit.
The sooner you reach out, the more we can do to help protect your future.
There’s no perfect answer. Refusing can trigger an automatic license suspension, but it can make the criminal case harder for prosecutors to prove. On the other hand, taking the test and failing may result in a shorter license suspension but provides evidence for the prosecution. The decision has major strategic implications for both your license and your criminal case. If you’ve already been charged, we can help you navigate the consequences of whichever decision you made.
DUI charges can be dismissed if the stop was illegal, tests weren’t properly administered, equipment had problems, or your rights were violated. Every case is different, and the outcome depends on the specific facts involved.
Not necessarily. If the officer initiated an administrative license suspension and you take action within 30 days, you may be able to continue driving while your case is pending. The options available to you depend on your age, whether you took or refused the test, and your prior history.
If you had a valid Georgia license and the officer initiated an administrative license suspension, you may have received a 45-day temporary permit. During that time, you have 30 days to take action to prevent automatic suspension when the permit expires.
You can be charged with DUI for any substance that impairs your ability to drive safely. These cases cam be more defensible than alcohol DUIs because proving drug impairment can be more difficult for the prosecution.
DUI Per Se means you had a BAC at or above the legal limit (0.08% for those 21 and older, 0.02% for under 21). DUI Less Safe means the prosecution is arguing that alcohol or drugs made you a less safe driver, regardless of your BAC. You can be charged with DUI Less Safe even if your BAC was below 0.08% or if you refused the chemical test entirely.
This page is for informational purposes only. For guidance specific to your situation, contact our legal team.
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm 691 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE unit 225, Atlanta, GA 30312
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm 2765 S Main St Suite C-2, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm 3227 S. Cherokee Lane, Suite 1360, Woodstock, GA 30188