Athens Student DUI Lawyer

Georgia is home to several college campuses and universities. The University of Georgia, located in the heart of Athens, sees several students facing DUI charges or other accusations of underage drinking. Perhaps you were driving home after a football game at Sanford Stadium, or you might have been leaving a party on Greek Row near South Milledge Avenue. No matter how your charge came about, you need an Athens student DUI lawyer to defend you.

The Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC: Protecting Georgia Students

Since the firm’s establishment in 2013, the Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC, has been dedicated to defending the rights of local area students, particularly those enrolled in high schools and colleges. We have worked on hundreds of these cases and successfully acquitted many defendants of drinking and driving. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your charge, we can fight for your rights, especially if you are under the legal drinking age.

Defining a Student DUI in Athens

At the Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC, we understand how one simple mistake can haunt you for the rest of your life. That’s why you need proper and experienced legal counsel. There are multiple kinds of DUI charges you can face in Athens, especially as a local student. These include:

• Normal DUI. If you are at or above the legal drinking age of 21 in Athens, you could still be pulled over for suspected drunk driving. If your BAC, or blood alcohol content, level is 0.08% or higher, you could face DUI charges.
• Aggravated DUI. An aggravated DUI charge can arise in many ways, but one of the most common includes the death or severe bodily injury of another party from a wreck caused by drunk driving. In 2022 alone, around 30% of traffic fatalities occurred in cases of drunk driving.
• Repeated DUI. In Georgia, the more DUIs you are charged with in a specific period, the more likely it is that you will face increased penalties. Multiple DUIs could even result in the suspension or revocation of all driving privileges.
• Minor DUI. If you are a student, the chances of being under the legal drinking age in Georgia are high. If you are under 21 years of age and charged with a DUI, this means you were caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher. In addition to the usual penalties imposed by the courts in these cases, you might also be prevented from obtaining your graduated license for another 12 months.
• CDL DUI. If you hold a commercial driver’s license, which some students may, especially if they are going into specific fields of employment, you cannot be caught driving these vehicles with a blood alcohol content level of 0.04% or higher.

As a student in Athens, it is essential to be aware of the potential DUI charges you could face and the penalties that may be imposed if you are convicted. At the Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC, we can review your case and determine the correct strategy to use in your defense.

Strategies for Defense in a Student DUI Case

In an Athens student DUI case, several defense strategies may be available. These include:

• Errors in the police report
• Misconduct by the police or arresting officers
• Inaccurate field sobriety test results
• Inaccurate DUI blood test, such as that caused by improper storage of the sample
• A DUI stop based on no probable cause
• Symptoms that looked like those caused by DUI but were not, such as slurred speech from exhaustion or stress, red or watery eyes due to allergy symptoms, and breath odor from illness or medication

If you or your child has been arrested and charged with a DUI, an attorney must be hired immediately. They can review the facts of the case and question any evidence the prosecution may have against you.

FAQs

Q: How Can a Successful DUI Conviction Harm a Student?

A: There are several ways in which a successful DUI charge can harm a student in Georgia. Many universities in the state have a strict code of conduct, meaning a student can be suspended or even expelled if they break the law. Additionally, having a criminal record of a DUI can harm your future job prospects following graduation.

Q: What Are the Most Common Penalties for a Student DUI in Georgia?

A: The most common legal penalties for a student DUI charge in Georgia, per the state’s student DUI laws, can include fines, probation, community service, and even jail time. Depending on the circumstances of your alleged DUI, you may also:

• Lose access to your job.
• Have your license suspended or revoked.
• Failing to pay increases your car insurance premiums.
• Lose your eligibility for financial aid.

Q: What Medical Conditions Can Affect a Breathalyzer Test?

A: Certain medical conditions can affect the results of a breathalyzer test, and these can be used as part of your defense strategy in your case. These conditions can simulate the presence of alcohol in your mouth, which is caused by acid that travels upward from your stomach. They include:

• Heartburn or acid reflux
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD
• Hiatal hernias

Q: What Are Some Aggravating Factors for a DUI?

A: Several aggravating factors can increase the severity of your student DUI penalties if you are successfully convicted. These include:

• An excessively high BAC
• Additional charges, such as resisting arrest
• The presence of a child in your vehicle at the time of your arrest
• Causing an accident that results in significant bodily harm or even death

Nearly 32 people are killed every day from drunk driving.

Hire a Student DUI Lawyer From the Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC, Today

If you have been arrested for a student DUI in Athens, you must speak to an Athens student DUI attorney as soon as possible. The consequences of a successful conviction could cause lasting and devastating harm to your future. However, you can have the greatest chance of avoiding a conviction when you hire a student DUI lawyer. Contact the Law Offices of Adam M. Cain, LLC, today to learn more about your options for defense.