Preparing for a DUI Trial

In North Fulton, the cities of both Alpharetta and Milton have their own municipal courts and police departments. One of the biggest offenses for these cities is DUI - drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. The cities of Alpharetta, GA and Mitlon, GA maintain seperate court locations, but share a DUI prosecuting attorney. The first step after being charged with a DUI in these jurisdictions is a pre-trial conference between the DUI prosecutor and your Alpharetta or Milton DUI lawyer. In many cases, a plea bargain can be reached that minimizes fines, jail time, and license suspensions. However, sometimes the goal is to beat the charges altogether. In that case, a plea bargain will not do as the Alpharetta DUI prosecutor is unlikey just to drop the case altogether (though it does happen if there is no evidence at all or police misconduct). More common, an Alpharetta DUI case (or Milton DUI case) is contested with a trial. In both Alpharetta and Milton, the driver accused of DUI can have a bench trial before the city court judge. This can be a good stategy if there is a very strong legal argument, but it is usually a better approach to demand a trial by jury for several reasons.

Neither Milton Municipal Court nor Alpharetta Municipal Court have jury trials, so the cases are sent to the Fulton County state court downtown. It can take several months (or even years) to get a trial date in Fulton County. The delay can help or hinder the case depending on the particuar circumstances. If you find yourself facing a DUI in Milton, GA or Alpharetta, call Alpharetta DUI lawyer Richard Lawson today. Mr. Lawson and his team of DUI attorneys have experience getting North Fulton DUI clients the best possible results on their cases. Call Mr. Lawson now for an absolutely free consultation of your Alpharetta DUI charges.