Buttigieg & Associates, P.C.

OVER 50% OF OUR FIRM'S CASELOAD IS DEDICATED TO DUI/DWI DEFENSE. 

Our firm prides itself on representing a substantial number of clients in DUI/DWI cases across Georgia.  Over 50% of our total caseload is DUI/DWI defense cases. Our continuous research, diligent work ethic, experience and innovative approach helps keep us on the cutting edge to ensure that our DUI/DWI clients get the best defense money can buy. Read our "Recent Sucessful Cases" below for accounts of recent DUI/DWI defense successes. 

DUI/DWI IN GEORGIA 

Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, is one of the most serious misdemeanors you can be charged with in Georgia. For even the first time DUI offender, the penalties for a DUI can be mandatory jail time, automatic suspension of your driver's license, increased insurance rates, community service and substantial fines. Today, the courts can look back 10 years instead of only 5 to add additional penalties. 

No matter how "unwinnable" you feel your case may be, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to discuss how we may be able to sucessfully defend you. 

10-DAY RULE

From the date of your arrest, you have ten business days to file a Request for an Administrative Appeal.  If you fail to request an appeal, your driver's license will automatically be suspended.  If you file a timely request for an Appeal, you will be given a hearing to dispute the automatic suspension of your license.  Note that the Appeal must be formatted and submitted according to the requirements of the Department of Driver Services or your request for an appeal may be summarily denied.

At the hearing, the arresting officer will be present and in order to retain your driver's license you must demonstrate that the officer lacked probable cause to arrest you for a DUI, or, in the alternative, you must get the arresting officer to withdraw his or her request for a suspension.

DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY FOR A DUI?

Our firm has handled numerous DUI (drugs and alcohol) cases and has been very successful in gaining favorable dispositions for our clients. Because the DUI laws are extremely complex and because the person accused of even a first DUI has so much at stake, our firm highly recommends the accused obtain knowledgeable counsel. Any person accused of a DUI will be up against a skilled prosecutor and skilled law enforcement officers that will know how to persuasively argue their case through police training and experience.  Having a knowledgeable DUI attorney will significantly improve your chances of achieving a favorable disposition. 

EXACTLY HOW CAN YOUR FIRM HELP ME WITH MY DUI/DWI CHARGE?

Regardless of your guilt or innocence, our firm can assist you in several ways.  We have a strong regional presence and our track record in DUI cases is very good.  We have worked on numerous DUI cases and are knowledgeable of not only the current DUI laws, but also of the prosecutors and court systems within which we practice.  We approach every DUI case, no matter the facts and no matter the client, as if we fully intend on taking the matter to trial before a jury.  Specifically:

First, we appeal the administrative suspension of your driver's license which usually allows us to keep you behind the wheel while your case is pending.  This appeal is filed within the 10-day time frame allowed by the DDS 1205.

Second, we file extensive discovery motions to find out precisely what the State intends to allege against you and what evidence they have.  Sometimes law enforcement is not cooperative and we have to subpoena documents from them or obtain a court order.  Based on the materials we obtain through discovery, we then proceed to go through every aspect of your case with a fine-toothed comb to make sure that the arresting officer acted properly and lawfully at all times.  Many times, the officer will have committed mistakes which can substantially impair their ability to effectively prosecute you and may, in some cases, be cause for a dismissal of your case.  For instance, not being certified to take your breath sample, or not having probable cause to have detained you in the first place. 

Third, we do our own leg work to ensure that the State provided our office with all of the evidence and to obtain evidence not in the State's file, such as the arresting officer's training history, employment file and the very manuals he or she used while they were in DUI detection training.

Fourth, we keep an on-going dialogue with the prosecutors and law enforcement officers regarding your case.  We let them know that we are serious about defending you.  Our continuous dialogue allows us to obtain favorable recommendations in may cases which allow our clients to "plead out" to lesser infractions, such as Reckless Driving, which carry substantially lower penalties.  Sometimes the facts are such that a trial is necessary.  Because of our early preparation and zealous attention to detail, if a trial is required, we are more than ready.

Fifth, we keep the client in the lopp during the entire process through phone calls and status letters with enclosures of relevant documents so you can stay on top of your case while we're working on it.

No matter the circumstances of your arrest, our firm is committed to assisting you keep your license and obtaining a favorable disposition, whether through plea bargaining or a trial of the case.

HOW MUCH DOES YOUR FIRM CHARGE FOR A DUI CASE?

No two DUI cases are alike, and as such, our firm charges our clients on a case-by-case basis. Generally, a DUI case will cost in the neighborhood of $2,500-$7,000, depending on the complexity of the case, the number of previous DUI's the client has had, and whether the case will be plead out or tried.  Generally, a client with no prior DUI's will pay a total of $2,500.00.

CAN I COME IN AND TALK TO A LAWYER FOR FREE?

Initial client consultations are always free.  please contact us to set up an appointment. You may call our office at (478) 994-3226, telephone attorney Dustin M. Buttigieg directly on his cellular at (478) 973-1621, email us or use our convenient contact page to ask questions.

WHERE DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE?

We handle DUI cases Statewide.

HOW DO I CONTACT YOUR FIRM TO REPRESENT ME IN MY DUI/DWI?

You may call our office at (478) 994-3226, telephone attorney Dustin M. Buttigieg directly at (478) 973-1621, email us for a quick response or use our convenient contact page to ask questions.

Please keep in mind that you only have a few days from the date of your arrest to save your driver's license.

RECENT DUI CASES HANDLED SUCESSFULLY BY OUR FIRM:

STATE v. C.B., Municipal Court of Forsyth, GA

A young African American man, C.B.,  was stopped by law enforcement for "loud music" whereupon the officer performing the stop alleged C.B. had "red eyes", a "green tongue", "trouble understanding" and other signs of being under the influence of marijuana.  C.B. had admitted to the officer that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the evening. and was summarily arrested and charged with DUI Drugs and Loud Music. 

C.B. retained our firm and, through a succesful DDS Appeal, was able to keep his driver's license pending final resolution of the case. Through hard work, diligent efforts and some fortunate events on the eve of trial, we were able to get all charges DISMISSED.

State v. C.H., Bibb County State Court, Macon, GA 

A law enforcement officer pulled over a young woman, C.H., for speeding. Upon stopping her, the officer stated he noticed several signs of intoxication.  The officer asked C.H. to perform a series of Field Sobriety Tests which she performed. The officer believed C.H. had "failed" these tests and that she was driving under the influence of alcohol.  C.H. admitted to the officer that she was, in fact, coming from a bar and that she had consumed a few beers. She was taken to the Bibb County Detention Center and registered almost double the legal limit on her breath test.  She was arrested and charged with DUI and Speeding. 

Through diligent discovery efforts, our firm learned that C.H. had actually been given two sets of breath tests instead of just the one.  The first breath test showed an "invalid sample" reading, meaning the machine was detecting the presence of residual alcohol in C.H.'s mouth.  In Georgia, law enforcement training materials state the officer should have waited twenty-minutes before re-testing C.H.'s breath. However, the officer gave C.H. another test after waiting only four minutes.  Through constant dialogue with the Chief Solicitor, the State reduced its charge to Reckless Driving and C.H. happily pled guilty to "Reckless Driving" and paid a total fine of $350.00. 

STATE v. C.M., Macon Municipal Court, Macon, GA

C.M., a 19-year old female (under the legal drinking age), was stopped in Macon, Georgia for running a red light. The officer asked if she had been drinking and she replied that she had "drank a few sips."  C.M. admitted she was coming home from a local night club. She was given a breath test and registered 0.22, which, for drivers under 21 years old, is over the legal limit.

C.M. hired our firm soon after her arrest and we filed a DDS Appeal. C.M. was allowed to keep her license pending final resolution of the case. After extensive discovery, review of all documents in the case, and several conferences with the Chief Solicitor, we were able to negotiate a plea for C.M. that allowed her to ultimately pled guilty to Reckless Driving and avoid a DUI on her record.