George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. DUI Trial Lawyers Email Consultation: firm@georgialawyer.com, or Phone Consultation: (770) 961 5511, or Submit an free online DUI case analysis using the "Contact" tab above. | |
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Atlanta DUI Lawyers
George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. is a law firm representing those charged with DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our firm has advised thousands of DUI clients primarily in Metro Atlanta: including the City of Atlanta, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, Clayton, Fayette, Rockdale, Spalding and Coweta Counties. We know the Court system, the Judges, the Prosecutors and how they work. I was a staff attorney for a Superior Court Judge in Clayton County in 1993-1994.
Offices conveniently located across the Atlanta Metro Area for consultations by appointment, at a location near your home, online, on the phone, via email in consideration for your time and convenience.
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Dowtown Atlanta
on Freedom Parkway
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Southside in Forest Park
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Duluth, GA
on the Northside
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DUI Georgia: Tough New Laws
The toughest DUI laws in Georgia history went into effect on July 1, 2009. These laws require jail time for all DUI convictions, increased look back for mandatory sentencing from five years to 10 years, felony treatment for a fourth DUI in ten years, license suspensions, twelve months of reporting probation, and extensive community service. Some Georgia DUI offenders will have all of their license plates confiscated and be required to perform 30 days or 240 hours of community service!
In your Georgia DUI, you will face two courts: a criminal court and a driver's license court. Further, if you do not request a hearing with in ten business days, your license will be suspended thirty days after your arrest for as much as five years in some cases, usually before you even go to court for your DUI.
DUI Georgia: New Laws Make Legal Representation Essential
Georgia's Tough New DUI penalties make legal representation essential. If you do not contact us, please contact another attorney. Do not go to court unrepresented. If you can't afford to miss work for a year, you can't afford not to hire an experienced Atlanta DUI attorney.
Hire Experienced Metro Area Atlanta DUI Attorneys | DUI Georgia
We take all major credit cards and have payment plans for qualified applicants. We are an established law firm here to help you. We will not plead your case guilty unless you tell us you do not want a trial. Call us at (770) 961-5511 for a free consultation, email
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or fax us a copy of your tickets or police report at (770) 961-5544.
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Closing Argument Quotables
"I consider [trial by jury] as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." --Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 1789. ME 7:408, Papers 15:269
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect." -Sir Walter Scott
Most Commonly Asked Question: What do I do if I am arrested for DUI? Click here for the Answer.
Georgia DUI Myths:
Myth: Driving at 0.08 is dangerous or a driver is impaired.
Fact: A University of Utah study found that drivers talking on cell phones with and without earbuds were more dangerous than drivers who had consumed enough alcohol to be in excess of the 0.08 legal blood alcohol limit for most states. See blog link Strayer, D. Human Factors, Summer 2006; vol 48: pp 381-391. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: “DUI/DWI Laws.” News release, University of Utah.
Myth: Mouthwash or breath spray will help you beat a DUI.
Click here to find out more about Atlanta DUI Myths.
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The Fayette County Georgia Sheriff's Department announced a DUI crackdown in Fayette County, Peachtree City, Tyrone, and Fayetteville. County Sheriff's and local City Police will be teaming up for an "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" weekend for Labor Day 2010. Read about the Fayette County DUI crack down. |
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In a Georgia DUI arrest, even if there is no probable cause to arrest for a traffic or other offense, the Fourth Amendment allows police to stop a vehicle to investigate a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Vansant v. State, 264 Ga. 319, 320, 443 S.E.2d 474 (1994)(holding improper a traffic stop based on information that a vehicle described only as a “white van” had been involved in a hit-and-run accident in the area. The Court reasoned the lack of specific information precluded a finding of articulable suspicion.) To meet the reasonable suspicion standard, police must point, under the totality of the circumstances, to "specific and articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, ... [provide] a particularized and objective basis for suspecting the particular person stopped of criminal activity." Id. at 320, 443 S.E.2d 474; Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968).
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Atlanta Police Chief George Turner admitted to using unconstitutional roadblocks for general crime deterence at a Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Community forum last week. The Atlanta Police Chief's dialogue went as follows:
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A Rockdale Superior Court Judge has put a halt to illegal DUI license suspensions with a Temporary Restraining Order on the Georgia Department of Driver Services. The petitioners, all persons arrested for DUI, have asserted that the forms initiating their administrative DUI license suspensions were not sworn before a notary public as to the truth of their contents as required by law but that notaries were simply signing off on forms when they had never even seen the DUI poilce officers initiating the DUI license suspension process. This appears to be a violation of the law and of the notaries oath of office. For more on the story click here. |
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Damon Evans, widely honored Athletic Director at the University of Georgia, was arrest for DUI by the Georgia State Patrol Wednesday night, June 30 , 2010. All Georgia DUI defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a jury of their peers beyond a reasonable doubt. Read the article. |
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Arresting the Innocent and assassinating political enemies. DUI Field Sobriety Tests pass the test. Gwinnett Commission Chairman fails DUI field sobriety tests for and blows 0.000.
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The Oregon Court of Appeals in Bevans v. State, CFH060312, A135890, June 9, 2010 held that the vertical gaze nystagmus portion of the Standardized DUI Field Sobriety Evaluations is not admissible in evidence as there is no evidence of its scientific reliability for its stated purpose for admission. The Vertical Gaze Nystagmus purportedly can detect whether a person has consumed more than the usual dose of drugs or alcohol that that particular person is accustomed. The inference being that if the person has more the substance in their system than they normally consume that is an inference of impairment.
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Approximately four hundred (400) DUI defendants in our nation's capital (Washington, D.C.) were wrongfully convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) based on erroneous DUI breath tests results that mis-calculated blood alcohol levels on average of 20% higher than the person arrested for DUI's actual blood alcohol level.
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DUI; Implied Consent, Multiple State Administered Tests; Miranda. State v. Warmack, 203 Ga. App. 157 (1998). Officer John Helton stopped W. Warmack for DUI in Dalton, Georgia. He arrested him. Warmach blew .064 and .058 at the police station. Based on inconsistency of the breath result and the field tests by the Officer, the Officer re-read implied consent and requested blood. Warmack became angry and refused. The Whitfield County Trial Court suppressed any mention of the request for blood or Warmack's refusal. The Court relied on the plain language of OCGA 40-5-67.1(a) which allowed a blood and urine or a breath and urine only. The legislature later amended the statute to allow police to request an additional blood test after a negative breath test but the Defendant still must be re-read implied consent rights and must be Mirandized as well. See, State v. Coe, 243 GA. App. 232 (2000)("—that, because state law affords greater protection against self-incrimination than the federal constitution," where the driver is already in State custody, as here, the request to undergo further State testing must be preceded by Miranda warnings") |
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Legislative Update: DUI Arrestee Driver's License Tax. When you are arrested for DUI in Georgia, generally you must send a letter to save your Georgia Driver's license within 10 business days to prevent your license from being suspended administratively for your DUI arrest. This is commonly know as the "10 day letter." This letter used to be free of charge. Not anymore. Starting on May 13, 2010, these letters will have to be accompanied by a $150.00 filing fee. Changes to O.C.G.A. §40-5-67.1 from House Bill 1055 enacted at the 2010 Session of the Georgia General Assembly require payment of a filing fee of $150.00 to appeal an Georgia DUI administrative license suspension or Georgia DUI implied consent suspension (less safe, per se or refusal). The new DUI filing fee applies to any DUI arrest occurring on or after May 13, 2010. The filing fee should be submitted with the DUI license suspension appeal letter within ten (10) business days of incident. Checks and money orders are the preferred forms of payment, and they should be made payable to the Department of Driver Services (DDS). The DDS will be contacting "customers"/DUI attorneys in writing if the filing fee is not sent with the appeal, and the State will be amending the DDS-1205 form to reflect fee requirement on violator’s copy. Our DUI law firm will still send the letter for free of charge but it must by accompanied by a check or money order of $150.00 from the client made payable to the Department of Driver Services.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on April 28, 2010 that City of Roswell, Georgia DUI police officers working the night shift have been ordered to meet a 25 a year DUI arrest quota or be transfered off the night shift.
The story was based on a memo from a Roswell Police Department shift supervisor in January 2010 setting a quota or "goal" of 25 DUI arrests a year. Reportedly a Roswell DUI Police officer was transferred from the night shift two weeks after the Roswell DUI quota memo was issued for not keeping up with other DUI officers arrests.
DUI arrests in Roswell have increased sharply this year. |
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Newsflash
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COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE WARNING!!!! PILOT WARNING!!!! PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION WARNING!!!!
Clayton County DUI Lawyer Recent DUI success stories: The only unwinnable DUI is the untried DUI! Stay tuned for more victories. The wins just keep on coming! Past success does not guarantee future results only a dedication to winning your DUI, hard work and our clients.

1) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: July 16, 2010. Client put on trial before a jury for DUI per se (breath test DUI), DUI less safe (impairment DUI), improper lane change, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane. Client, a college student in his 20's, was facing minimum sentence for a 1st time DUI but significant jail time if he lost at trial as judge indicted pre-trial and a DUI on his record for life. Client was alleged to have had a single car accident on the ramp to I-285 from I-75 South by a Clayton County Officer. An off-duty Atlanta Police Officer was first on the scene and a concerned citizen reported the crash but neither caller nor the Atlanta Officer's name or contact information was taken by Clayton DUI Police. Not one of three Clayton DUI Police Officer asked if Client was driving or if there was anyone in his car. Client merely stated that he was heading home after having a few classes of wine. Police alleged that client was unsteady on his feet and failed field sobriety tests. Cross-examination revealed that client did reasonably well on fields evaluations for a person involved in crash and that he had no burns on his inner arm from the airbag in the steering wheel. Client allegedly blew 0.095 on the Intoxilyzer 5000 which was established to be inaccurate on cross-examinaiton based on fever, test taken before blood alcohol peak on the alcohol curve and not knowing if the Defendant's partition ratio of breath to blood was 1:2100 as the machine assumes. All of this was done with State witnesses using their own training manuals. The Jury found client NOT GUILTY on both DUIs, improper lane change and even on reckless driving but guilty on failure to maintain lane. 2) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: October 7, 2009. Client put on trial before a jury for DUI less safe and failure to maintain lane. Client, a 47 year old commercial truck driver, was facing the loss of his driver's license and ability to earn a living. Client was allegedly observed weaving by a Clayton County Officer. Client was talking on his cell phone and searching for a CD and admitted weaving. Police alleged that client was so drunk that he staggered out of his car, failed field sobriety tests and then urinated on himself. Cross-examination revealed that client needed to use the restroom soon after being pulled over and was forced to wait almost an hour and a half on the side of the road and was not allowed to use the bathroom. Client appeared sober on the video and his poor performance was attributed to the need to urinate by the jury. One police officer testified that client did not have slurred speech while the other testified that he did. Two of three videos were not produced at trial. One of the officers was training a rookie in DUI field test but could not remember his own training. The Jury found client NOT GUILTY in 30 minutes and did not even ask to review the video again.
3) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: September 22, 2009. Client put on trial before a jury for DUI less safe and running a red arrow light. Client was pulled over for running a red arrow on Tara Blvd. DUI police officer smelled an odor of alcohol, observed red and glassy eyes and slurred speech. The DUI Officer had client step out of the vehicle. Client had no trouble getting out of her vehicle. DUI Officer alleged that client stumbled on the walk to the back of her car. Officer asked Client to perform 2 of 3 standardized field sobriety tests including the walk and turn and the one leg stand. DUI Officer claimed that Client stepped off line, did not maintain her balance during the instructional phase and made an improper turn. On cross-examination, the Officer admitted that according to his training manual Client did not show a lack of balance during the instructional phase nor did she make an improper turn. DUI officer claimed that she stepped off line by not placing her feet directly infront of each other on an imaginary line but rather placed them only half way in front of each other. Officer admitted after being confronted with his training manual that the walk and turn test did not show impairment. On cross-examination, the DUI officer admitted that Client only swayed while counting to 40 by one thousands on the one-leg stand indicating only 1 of 4 clues. Officer admitted that the one leg stand did not indicate impairment either. Client refused the state administered blood test at jail. Jury deliberted for 30 minutes and found Client NOT GUILTY of DUI.
4) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: September 4, 2007. Client put on jury trial for DUI less safe after being observed weaving over the roadway and sleeping at a traffic light. Client did not show red and glassy eyes, slurred speech, no stumbling or staggering, and walked the line. She claimed that one consumed one wine and was sleepy not impaired. Officer neglected to read implied consent at scene so no breath test was in evidence. State offered client a reduction to reckless driving during jury selection when majority of jury panel indicated that they would require a breath test to convict client. Client's DUI charge was DISMISSED and she pled to reckless driving a 4 point traffic offense.
5) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: May 24, 2007. Client put on jury trial for DUI less safe. Client pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road and failure to maintain lane. Client performed field tests and missed touching heel to toe on walk a line and counted incorrectly on the one leg stand. Clayton County Heat Unit Officer Derek Presley testified inconsistently with trial testimony, with his police report and with the video. Client was arrested and blew 0.079 under the legal limit. The Prosecutor stubbornly would not reduce or dismiss the DUI charge. At first trial, the Jury deadlocked 4 to 2 on the DUI and a mistrial was declared. Second Trial Jury found client NOT GUILTY of all DUI charges in fifteen minutes. Jurors commented that Officer testimony inconsistencies demanded not guilty verdict.
6) DUI Clayton County, Georgia: December 22, 2006. Client put on jury trial for DUI less safe. Client pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road and failure to maintain lane. Client performed field tests and missed touching heel to toe on walk a line and counted incorrectly on the one leg stand. Client was arrested and blew 0.079 under the legal limit. The Prosecutor would not reduce or dismiss the DUI charge. The Jury deadlocked 4 to 2 on the DUI and a mistrial was declared. Client was found guilty of the traffic violations and sentenced. A retrial on the DUI charges is possible but unlikely at this time.
Non-DUI Criminal
1) Running a Stop Sign, June 2008. Client involved in an automobile accident. He was in median an struck by another vehicle. Other driver was cited for too fast for conditions and plea guilty. A guilty plea to a traffic accident is considered negligence per se or automatic liability. Client suffered severe injuries and wanted to recover damages. A guilty plea would prevent that from happening. Client took accident to trial. Extensive photographic evidence taken at scene indicated that client was not at fault and other driver speeding and lost control. Officer stubbornly refused to back off of stop sign violation. Case tried before a Judge. Judge found client NOT GUILTY. Client may now proceed to recover damages in possibly in the hundreds but at least tens of thousands of dollars as his medical treatment continues and recovery is uncertain.
2) Drug Possession Clayton County, March 2008. Client arrested during a search of a house where he was sleeping. Search warrant listed address and not client. Police entered house , woke client up and searched Client and found no weapons but emptied his pockets without consent upon feeling a small pouch. Police are not allowed to search persons other than for weapons when executing a search warrant when the person is not listed in the warrant or without consent or probable cause of criminal activity. The alleged drugs were excluded from evidence as a result of the illegal search. Case against client was dismissed. Owner of house pled guilty to possession but Client's criminal charges were DISMISSED. Client has since completed successfully a drug rehabilitation program in case he was convicted in order to reduce his punishment. It is always important to have a back up plan to "not guilty." Additionally, this is a win/win for client as the criminal charges are dismissed and he gets treatment for any drug or alcohol addiction.
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Atlanta DUI Attorney George C. Creal, Jr. P.C.

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