If you have been charged with a DUI in Savannah, you want a lawyer that is committed to helping you understand the case and will work tirelessly to develop a strategic approach to achieve your goals. At Sessions & Fleischman, we help clients navigate the complexities of DUI charges in Savannah. If you or a loved one is facing the daunting prospect of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) charge, our seasoned legal team is here to provide the expertise and support you need. With a proven track record of successfully defending clients against DUI charges, we understand the unique legal landscape in Savannah and are committed to securing the best possible outcome for your case.
Ben Sessions is one of only four lawyers in Georgia to attain Board Certification in DUI Defense through the National College for DUI Defense, the only DUI certification program accredited by the American Bar Association. He has tried more than 60 jury trials, and he has litigated DUI issues through the Georgia appellate courts, including Mitchell v. State, one of the most important Georgia Supreme Court decisions on drug recognition expert testimony in DUI drugs cases. Every case is different, and we build the approach around the facts of your arrest and what you need to protect.
How to Choose a Savannah DUI Lawyer
For most people, choosing a lawyer is difficult. If you Google “Savannah DUI lawyer”, you’ll get hundreds of results. Unfortunately, most of the results are lawyers that just needed some money and didn’t have any level of specialized knowledge regarding the defense of DUI cases. We don’t dabble in DUI cases. We’ve committed our practice to provide the highest level of service and results to people charged with driving under the influence in Georgia. Our defense attorneys will help you understand your case and put together a strategic plan to mitigate your exposure and to defend these charges. Don’t leave your future to someone that has chosen a part-time hobby of handling DUI cases. You need more than someone that will walk you to the courthouse to plead guilty to DUI.
Proven Savannah DUI Lawyer & A Track Record of Success
Our firm has a proven track record of successfully representing clients facing a DUI arrest in Savannah. We have secured favorable outcomes for clients facing drunk driving charges through meticulous case preparation, strategic negotiations, and, when necessary, aggressive courtroom advocacy. Our commitment to excellence has earned us the trust of clients and the respect of our peers in the legal community.
Where a Savannah DUI Case Is Actually Heard
Most people arrested for DUI in Savannah are surprised to learn that their case moves through more than one court. Chatham County Recorder’s Court is a court of inquiry. It is where the case begins, and it is where a case is bound over rather than finally resolved. Once a case is bound over, the District Attorney reviews the charges and issues an accusation, and the case is set in the State Court of Chatham County, which disposes of misdemeanor offenses, including traffic offenses.
State Court also takes misdemeanor cases from the municipal courts across the county: Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale, Thunderbolt, and Tybee Island. If you were arrested on Tybee or on the way back from the islands rather than downtown, that is the path your case will follow.
Chatham County State Court also operates a DUI Court program. Whether that program is the right outcome in your case depends on the facts, your record, and what you need to protect. It is an option to evaluate, not a default to accept.
The 30-Day Deadline That Has Nothing to Do With Your Court Date
A DUI arrest in Georgia starts two separate cases. One is the criminal case, which is what your court date is about. The other is an administrative action against your driver’s license, and it runs on its own clock. You have 30 days from the date of arrest to request an administrative license suspension hearing or to elect the ignition interlock device permit. If that window closes, the suspension takes effect no matter what happens later in the criminal case.
This is the most time-sensitive thing in front of you after a Savannah DUI arrest, and it is the reason not to wait until your first court appearance to call a lawyer. We explain the process in detail on our administrative license suspension page.
Personalized Approach to Savannah DUI Cases
At Sessions & Fleischman, we recognize that a DUI charge can have serious consequences for your personal and professional life. That’s why we take a personalized approach to each case, working closely with you to understand the details and nuances of your situation. Our attorneys are dedicated to providing individualized attention and crafting a defense strategy tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Understanding Your Savannah DUI Charges, Potential Consequences, and Plan a Defense
One of our core values is providing knowledge to our clients about the State’s case, the State’s strategy, and the implications on your life. You are the decisionmaker in this DUI case. In order to make decisions, you must be knowledgeable about the evidence and consequences at stake in your case. There are criminal defense attorneys that hardly ever speak with their clients, and clients are left feeling overwhelmed and in the dark at the end of the case. A Savannah DUI attorney at Sessions & Fleischman will work to help you understand what matters in your case. We will help you understand how, for example, field sobriety tests and/or the blood test or breath test will be challenged in your case. Whether you are charged with a first-time misdemeanor DUI/DWI or a felony DUI involving personal injury or death, your Savannah DUI lawyer must approach your case strategically and with your goals in mind.
Georgia, like every state, has strict laws governing DUI offenses, and a DUI charge or conviction carries real consequences. In Savannah, as in the rest of the state, the per se blood alcohol concentration limit for most drivers is 0.08 grams. For drivers under 21 the threshold is much lower: under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(k)(1), a driver under 21 is presumed to be driving under the influence at an alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams or greater.
Penalties for DUI Convictions
The penalties for a DUI conviction in Georgia can be severe and may include fines, driver’s license suspension, mandatory alcohol education programs, and even jail time. The severity of the penalties often depends on factors such as prior DUI convictions, the level of intoxication, and whether there were aggravating circumstances, such as accidents or injuries.
How a Savannah DUI Lawyer at Sessions & Fleischman Can Help You
Our first step in defending against a DUI charge is to understand your goals. We must understand how this charge and a potential conviction may impact your life. Knowing you and your life is a vital part of developing a strong attorney-client relationship. This information also is critical when we are negotiating a potential resolution of the case with the State.
Then, we will begin conducting an exhaustive case evaluation. We carefully review the circumstances leading to your arrest, probable cause for your arrest, examining the evidence, police procedures, and potential defenses. This meticulous approach allows us to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and build a strong defense strategy tailored to your situation.
Legal Guidance and Support
Navigating the legal system can be overwhelming, especially when facing DUI charges. Our team at Sessions & Fleischman is here to provide guidance and support at every step of the process. From your driver’s license hearing through a jury trial, we’ll be there with you. We explain your rights, the legal process, and potential outcomes, empowering you to make informed decisions about your case.
Strategic Negotiations and Litigation
Our attorneys are skilled negotiators, working tirelessly to secure favorable plea deals or reduced charges when appropriate. However, we are also prepared to take your case to trial if necessary. With a reputation for effective courtroom advocacy, we fight vigorously to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome.
Minimizing Consequences
Our goal is not only to defend you against the immediate charges but also to minimize the long-term consequences of a DUI conviction and criminal record. Our criminal defense lawyers begin working early to explore options for reducing or avoiding driver’s license suspension, jail time, fines, and addressing other consequences that may impact your life.
If you or a loved one is facing a DUI charge in Savannah, don’t face it alone. The experienced attorneys at Sessions & Fleischman Law Firm are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and discuss your case. We are committed to providing you with the legal representation you need to navigate this challenging time and move forward with confidence.
Committed Savannah DUI Defense Lawyers
Our law offices are committed to providing the very highest level of representation for people charged with DUI in Georgia. Our lawyers understand the pseudo-science behind police officer and law enforcement field sobriety tests, including the walk-and-turn test, and we understand how to challenge these pieces of evidence. We are committed to defending clients charged with DUI in the following areas:
- Atlanta/Fulton County
- Macon
- Columbus/Muscogee County
- Savannah/Chatham County
- Lawrenceville/Gwinnett County
- Marietta/Cobb County
- Gainesville/Hall County
Our Savannah DUI lawyers offer free consultations on your criminal charge and we will help you understand how this charge may impact your driving privileges.
Savannah DUI Questions We Are Asked Most
How long do I have to protect my driver’s license after a Savannah DUI arrest?
Thirty days from the date of arrest to request an administrative license suspension hearing or to elect the ignition interlock device permit. That deadline is independent of your criminal court date, and it does not move.
Which court will my Savannah DUI case be heard in?
A case that begins in Chatham County Recorder’s Court is bound over to the State Court of Chatham County, which disposes of misdemeanor offenses including traffic offenses. Cases from the municipal courts in Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale, Thunderbolt, and Tybee Island are also resolved in State Court.
I refused the breath test. Does that help me or hurt me?
It changes the case rather than simply helping or hurting it. A refusal takes a number out of the State’s case, which matters. It also carries its own license consequence and gives the prosecutor something to argue at trial. Whether the refusal works in your favor depends on what else is in the file, which is why the evidence review comes before any prediction about outcome.
Can a Georgia DUI conviction be expunged?
No. A DUI conviction in Georgia is not eligible for record restriction, and the First Offender Act does not apply to DUI charges. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(f) expressly provides that the first offender provisions do not apply to a person convicted of violating that Code section. That permanence is the reason a DUI charge is worth defending rather than disposing of quickly.
