Warner Robins & Houston County DUI Lawyer

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Arrested for DUI in Warner Robins, Perry, or anywhere in Houston County? Two deadlines start the day of the arrest: a criminal case in court and a 30-day window to protect your driver’s license. Talk to a Board Certified DUI Defense Specialist before either one runs. Call (478) 254-2665 for a free case review.

Warner Robins DUI Lawyer: Board Certified in DUI Defense

Ben Sessions is a Board Certified DUI Defense Specialist through the National College for DUI Defense, the certifying organization accredited by the American Bar Association, and one of four lawyers in Georgia with that certification. He has taught more than 30 continuing legal education courses on DUI defense and has handled DUI appeals before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia. Our Macon office at 544 Mulberry Street is about 20 miles up I-75 from Warner Robins, and we handle DUI cases throughout Houston County.

After a DUI Arrest in Houston County

People arrested for DUI in Warner Robins, Perry, Centerville, Bonaire, or Kathleen are usually booked at the Houston County Detention Center at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins. Most first-offense DUI arrests are bondable, and many people are released the same day or the next morning once bond is posted.

The arresting agency matters. Houston County DUI arrests are made by the Warner Robins Police Department, the Perry Police Department, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol, which works I-75, Watson Boulevard, Russell Parkway, and US-41 heavily on weekends and holidays. Each agency has its own policies on field sobriety testing, body cameras, and breath testing, and we request all of it.

The 30-Day Deadline to Save Your License

A Georgia DUI arrest creates two separate cases: the criminal DUI charge and an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) case with the Department of Driver Services. You generally have 30 days from the arrest or the notice of suspension to request an ALS hearing (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.1) or, if you are eligible, to install an ignition interlock device and apply for a limited permit, which waives the hearing. If neither happens within 30 days, the suspension takes effect automatically. Choosing between the hearing and the interlock is a strategic decision that should be made with a DUI lawyer, because the hearing is also a chance to question the arresting officer under oath.

Where Your Case Will Be Heard

State Court of Houston County

Most misdemeanor DUI charges in Houston County are prosecuted by the Solicitor-General in the State Court of Houston County. The State Court has offices at the Houston County Courthouse (201 N. Perry Parkway, Perry) and the Houston County Annex (200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins). Your citation or bond paperwork lists which courtroom to report to and when; if it is unclear, we confirm it for you. The first court date is usually an arraignment. Motions to suppress evidence, plea negotiations, and bench or jury trials all happen in this court.

Warner Robins Municipal Court

Some DUI arrests made inside the Warner Robins city limits start in the city’s municipal court. A municipal court cannot hold a jury trial, so if you demand a jury the case is transferred to the State Court of Houston County. Whether to stay in municipal court or move the case is a decision that depends on the evidence and should be made early.

Perry Municipal Court

Some DUI arrests made by the Perry Police Department inside Perry city limits begin in Perry Municipal Court at 808 Carroll Street. The same rule applies as in Warner Robins: municipal court has no jury, so asking for a jury trial moves the case to the State Court of Houston County. A Perry DUI is a mandatory court appearance, not a ticket you can simply pay.

Felony DUI cases

A fourth DUI within ten years is a felony, and a DUI crash that causes serious injury or death is charged as serious injury by vehicle or vehicular homicide. These cases are prosecuted by the Houston Judicial Circuit District Attorney in Houston County Superior Court.

DUI Arrests at Robins Air Force Base

A DUI arrest on Robins Air Force Base is not handled in Houston County courts. Because the base is federal property, civilian and military drivers charged with DUI there are generally prosecuted in federal court in the Middle District of Georgia, and service members can also face separate administrative action from their command. If you were stopped at a base gate or on base, tell us at the first call so we can address both the court case and your base driving privileges.

What We Look At in Every Houston County DUI Case

• The stop. Did the officer have a lawful reason to pull you over or detain you at a roadblock?
• Field sobriety tests. Were the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg-stand tests given and scored the way NHTSA training requires? See our guide to the HGN test in DUI cases.
• Implied consent. Was the Georgia implied consent notice read correctly and at the right time, and was consent to a breath or blood test actually voluntary?
• Breath testing. Was the Intoxilyzer 9000 operated by a certified operator and properly maintained and inspected?
• Blood testing. Was blood drawn under a valid warrant or valid consent, and was the sample handled and tested properly? See hospital blood tests in DUI cases.
• Video. Body camera and dash camera footage often shows a different picture than the police report. We request it in every case.

Georgia DUI Penalties

A first DUI in Georgia is a misdemeanor that can carry up to 12 months in jail, fines, community service, a DUI Risk Reduction Program, and a clinical evaluation. Penalties increase for a second or third DUI within ten years, and a fourth within ten years is a felony. A DUI conviction in Georgia stays on your record permanently and cannot be expunged. For the full breakdown by offense, see our Georgia DUI lawyer page.

Warner Robins and Perry DUI Questions

Will I lose my license after a DUI arrest in Houston County?

Not automatically, if you act within 30 days. You can request an ALS hearing or, if eligible, install an ignition interlock and apply for a limited permit. If you do neither, the administrative suspension starts on its own, even before your criminal case is decided.

What is the legal limit in Georgia?

It is 0.08 for most adult drivers, 0.04 for commercial drivers, and 0.02 for drivers under 21. You can also be charged with DUI “less safe” below those numbers, or for driving impaired by marijuana, prescription medication, or other drugs. See our page on DUI drugs charges.

Can I refuse the breath or blood test?

You can refuse, but refusal under Georgia’s implied consent law triggers its own license suspension, and prosecutors may try to use the refusal at trial. Whether the refusal can be used, and whether the officer read the implied consent notice correctly, are common issues we litigate.

Do I need a DUI lawyer who knows Houston County courts?

Local practice matters: which court has your case, how the Solicitor-General’s office handles first offenses, and what each arresting agency records on video. We handle DUI cases throughout Houston County from our Macon office, about 20 miles away.

Nearby Courts We Handle

Many Houston County residents are arrested in neighboring counties. We also handle DUI cases in Macon-Bibb County and Milledgeville and Baldwin County. If you were hurt in a crash in Houston County, see our Warner Robins personal injury lawyer page.

Talk to a Warner Robins DUI Lawyer Today

The 30-day license deadline does not wait. Call Sessions & Fleischman at (478) 254-2665 for a free, confidential case review about your Warner Robins, Perry, or Houston County DUI.