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An arrest for Alpharetta DUI can be devastating regardless of where the arrest occurs; but for out-of-state drivers there are additional considerations that must be addressed.
One potential downside of Georgia DUI convictions is reporting them back to your home state for license suspension purposes, as well as impacting future employment prospects negatively.
Georgia Participates in the Non-Resident Driver Compact
Nearly all states have signed onto this interstate agreement, which enables police officers from each state to notify each other about traffic violations committed by drivers from another state. So for instance, a Georgia DUI conviction could be reported back home and penalized as though it occurred there.
If you are an out-of-state driver arrested for Alpharetta DUI in Georgia, your home state may still revoke your driving privileges. Therefore, having an experienced attorney on your side when facing this type of charges is absolutely critical to safeguard your future and secure a positive resolution of the situation.
Your Georgia DUI lawyer can help fight to keep your license from being suspended. They will file for an administrative license suspension hearing within 30 days of arrest and represent you at it – saving hundreds in travel expenses and lost work time!
Georgia’s DUI Laws Apply to Out-of-State Drivers
Out-of-state drivers found guilty of DUI face the same penalties as residents for being caught drinking and driving, including jail time, fines/fees from court-imposed fines/fees, community service requirements and mandatory alcohol or drug counseling programs. Furthermore, this state will notify their home state which may take steps to suspend their license as per its own laws.
Out-of-state drivers may find it more challenging to access diversion programs or temporary limited driving permits than Georgia residents would, making hiring an experienced Georgia DUI attorney one of your highest priorities after being arrested and charged with Alpharetta DUI.
Attorneys can be invaluable resources in helping navigate the legal system and build a solid defense, with hopes of reducing or dismissing charges against you. A local lawyer often can represent you without needing to travel back and forth; saving both time and money. With prosecution aggressively prosecuting DUI cases, having a knowledgeable legal advisor who protects your rights is vitally important.
Georgia’s Alpharetta DUI Penalties Apply to Out-of-State Drivers
Millions of visitors to Georgia each year travel here for vacation, sporting events, wine tasting and other purposes – unfortunately some visitors may also be arrested on DUI charges while there. A conviction of an out-of-state driver in Georgia can have serious repercussions, including jail time, steep fines, license suspension or revocation and community service requirements; depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest there may even be additional consequences from their own state for being arrested on DUI.
As part of the Interstate Driver’s License Compact, your home state may be informed about your conviction in Georgia and may impose additional penalties such as time in jail, license suspensions or force alcohol/drug treatment programs as well as higher insurance premiums.
Out-of-state drivers face one of the greatest difficulties when attending court dates for their case: traveling back and forth across state lines to attend them. A Georgia DUI defense attorney often handles these cases without their client having to do this themselves, saving both days, expenses, and inconvenience.
Out-of-State Drivers Can Have Their Home State Driver’s License Suspended
When arrested for DUI in another state, information will typically be provided back to your own state via the interstate driver’s license system. Your home state then uses its laws and penalties for that infraction to decide how best to punish it, possibly including suspension of driving privileges.
At an OSAH judge hearing for license suspension proceedings, it’s essential to keep in mind that the burden of proof is considerably lower compared to criminal trials. A judge only needs to find that all applicable statutory factors were met through preponderance of evidence – this standard being far lower than beyond reasonable doubt in criminal proceedings.
Alpharetta DUI charges can have lasting repercussions for you and your future, which is why any decision regarding plea bargaining must first be discussed with one of our firm’s top DUI lawyers before taking an affidavit or plea agreement for this offense.
