George C. Creal Jr., P.C.,
Atlanta DUI Lawyers | (404) 333-0706
  
Heading home after a couple beers at the Braves game and you're pulled over for speeding. A couple drinks in Little Five after a concert and there's blue flashing lights in the rear-view mirror. Driving home after dinner with friends in Midtown and now you've got a DUI. Do you need an experienced, professional Atlanta DUI attorney who knows his way around the Atlanta and Fulton County Justice System? With 20 years of experience defending DUI arrests, George C. Creal, Jr., P.C., Trial Lawyers is the Real Deal Atlanta DUI Firm. We are veterans of the Atlanta Justice System. We know the Court, the Judges, the Prosecutor, and the Police, and they know we are ready to fight for each and every one of our clients' rights. If you need to contact the Atlanta Municipal Court, or a Judge or Solicitor, click here.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHSTA) training manuals in DUI Detection and Field Sobriety Evaluations are used by Police agencies all over the United States. These manuals are central to how we evaluate your DUI defense and create a strategy to win your case. We have thoroughly studied these manuals and use our knowledge to establish how DUI evaluations are unreliable, inaccurate, and abused by police. We expose the flaws inherent to Georgia DUI investigations in order to prove your innocence. For more information on a strong DUI defense, visit our Atlanta DUI Defense Guide.
Dedicated Atlanta DUI Lawyers Determined to Fight for Your Interests - Aggressive DUI Representation You Deserve:
We have handled thousands of DUI cases, had hundreds of DUI arrests reduced to reckless driving and other non-DUI traffic offenses, and tried over of one hundred DUI Jury Trials. Unlike many DUI law firms, we have valuable “Not Guilty” Jury Trial Experience. We will not hesitate to give you our office and cell phone numbers. If you call, text or email us about your case, we contact you as soon as possible and never in more than 24 hours. Whether the case calls for trial, no trial, rehabilitation or minimized punishment, we always, always keep your interests in mind. We understand you are nervous about your Atlanta DUI arrest. We will take care of your DUI case so you can focus on what matters in life. For our firm, Customer Service is priority one. Call, email us, or start a free case evaluation 24 Hours a Day/ 7 days a week.
 If it's the First Time or Next Time, it's Always Good to be Prepared. Even if you're not technically DUI, if there is an odor of alcohol on your breath you are likely to be arrested and taken to jail. If the police cannot arrest you for DUI per se (blowing over 0.08), they'll most likely arrest you for DUI less safe: blowing under the legal limit, but being "less safe" to drive because of the presence of alcohol or drugs. In the end, don't panic and provide as little evidence as possible... more
With One Call or Click We Can Begin Your DUI Case - (404) 333-0706 or Free Case Evaluation:
We've handled all types of Atlanta DUI cases including, but not limited to, those with or without breath and/or blood test results, refusals of blood, breath or urine tests, with and without Standardized Field Sobriety Evaluations; even golf cart DUIs and marijuana arrests. We have handled DUI accidents and fatalities, DUI drugs, fleeing and eluding the police, marijuana possession, illegal drug searches, and felony and misdemeanor obstruction. There is no set of facts our Atlanta DUI lawyers haven't seen at least once. Our DUI case procedure is a methodical and thorough process that leaves no stone unturned and has the potential to win any type of Atlanta, Georgia drunk driving case.
An Atlanta DUI is Serious and May Include Serious Jail Time:
Even for a 1st DUI, you can be fined up to $1000.00 plus up to 40% tacked on as court costs and can spend up to 12 months in jail, 40 hours community service, drug and alcohol testing for one year and 12 months of reporting probation. Your license can be suspended anywhere from 120 days to 5 years. Do not try to handle your DUI alone.
Advice as to who you decide to hire as your Atlanta DUI lawyer: 1) Don’t hire a DUI lawyer based solely on price. Sometimes the cheapest lawyer--especially if they plea you to a DUI you don't deserve at the first opportunity--can be the most expensive. Cost per hour is the best way to compare lawyers. If a lawyer charges $1000, but only spends an hour on your case, that's $1000 dollars an hour! We, unlike bargain basement firms, spend an average of 10 hours on every DUI case 2) Ask any attorney that you speak with whether he/she has tried any DUI jury trials and how many not guilty verdicts he/she has received in the past 2 years; 3) Ask any attorney that you speak with whether he/she has studied police field sobriety training manuals and breath test machine, owner's and area supervisor's manuals. If not, they cannot adequately cross examine DUI police officers or breath test operators. A DUI lawyer who can't answer these questions is not ready for a real DUI jury trial and is not worth your time and money.
An Atlanta DUI lawyer is standing by. Call TODAY (404) 333-0706, or email us at firm@georgialawyer.com or Contact Us Online to review your case.
 A new law in Washington, which took effect on August 1st, allows State Patrol Troopers to draw blood from drivers suspected of DUI. Proponents claim the law will make it easier for repeat offenders to be charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor at the time of arrest. In Georgia, officers must obtain a warrant to draw blood from a DUI suspect. more.
Atlanta Court Information:
DUI arrests in the City of Atlanta are sent to the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. The City of Atlanta Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and can not handle jury trials. Requests for jury trials must be sent to either the Fulton County State Court or DeKalb County State Court.
The City of Atlanta Municipal Court has a special DUI court division. All DUI arrests are processed through the DUI Division which is held in Courtroom 3A of the City of Atlanta Municipal Courthouse located at:
150 Garnett Street,
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 658-6940.
municourt@atlantaga.gov
The Judges in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court, generally, are:
- Chief Judge Hon. Deborah S. Greene, (404) 954-8122
- Hon. Howard R. Johnson, (404) 588-4707
- Hon. Clinton E. Deveaux, (404) 588-5909
- Hon. Andrew A. Mickle, (404) 588-4709
- Hon. Barbara A. Harris, (404) 588-4702
- Hon. Catherine E. Malicki, (404) 588-4710
- Hon. Elaine L. Carlisle, (404) 954-6794
- Hon. Herman L. Sloan, (404) 588-4708
- Hon. Calvin S. Graves, (404) 658-7049
- Hon. Gary E. Jackson, (404) 658-6966
- Hon. Crystal S. Gaines, (404) 954-6763
However, generally speaking, the City of Atlanta Municipal Court assigns one Judge to handle all the DUI Atlanta Cases. In the City of Atlanta DUI arrests are generally made by the City of Atlanta DUI Task Force or the Nighthawks Unit of the Georgia State Patrol. Court is held Monday through Thursday beginning at 8 A.M. DUI Trials are generally held on the 4th week of the month.
The Municipal Court of Atlanta DUI Court Staff:
Judge - Calvin S. Graves - Trials and Motions - (404) 658-7049
Judge - Crystal S. Gaines - Arraignments, Pleas and Bindovers - (404) 954-6763
Prosecutors:
DUI Arraignment Division: Jacob Daugherty
DUI Trial Division: Michael Barber
The Office of the Atlanta Solicitor is located at:
Atlanta Municipal Court
City Court Building
City Solicitor’s Office
3rd Floor
150 Garnett Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: 404.658.6618
Fax: 404.658.7956
Jury trials are held at Fulton County State Court located at:
Justice Center Tower
185 Central Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: (404) 613-5002
COURT ADMIN.: Cicely Barber - (404) 613-4245 - cicely.barber@fultoncountyga.gov
CHIEF CLERK.: Mark N. Harper - (404) 613-4245 - mark.harper@fultoncountyga.gov
Justice Center Tower
185 Central Avenue
Suite TG800
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
CHIEF JUDGE: Patsy Y. Porter - Division B - Courtroom 2D - (404) 613-4345
JUDGE: John R. Mather - Division G - Courtroom 2E - (404) 613-4110
JUDGE: Susan B. Forsling - Division F - Courtroom 2F - (404) 613-4510
JUDGE: Brenda H. Cole - Division E - Courtroom 3E - (404) 613-4311
JUDGE: Myra H. Dixon - Division C - Courtroom 3A - (404) 613-4295
JUDGE: Diane E. Bessen - Division J - Courtroom 3D - (404) 613-7760
JUDGE: Fred C. Eady - Division Y - Courtroom 3B - (404) 613-5410
JUDGE: Susan E. Edlein - Division D - Courtroom 2A - (404) 613-0490
JUDGE: Jay M. Roth - Division A - Courtroom 3F - (404) 613-4330
JUDGE: Wesley B. Tailor - Division H -Courtroom 3C - (404) 613-4497
The Fulton County Solicitor's Office is located at:
160 Pryor St
Suite J-301
Atlanta, GA 30303
SOLICITOR GENERAL: Carmen D. Smith - (404) 612-4800
Important Steps for a Proper DUI Defense in Atlanta, Georgia:
1.) Obtain a Police and Georgia State Patrol Incident Report:
To obtain an Atlanta police report you may call (404) 546-7461, fax or mail an open records request or fill out and submit an electronic records request. The open records contact information is:
Email: APDOpenRecords@AtlantaGa.Gov
Fax: (404) 546-8200
Mailing Address:
Atlanta Police Department / Open Records
226 Peachtree St. SW
Atlanta, Ga 30303
Incident reports may also be obtained in person at the Atlanta Public Records Department located at the address above.
Incident Reports from the Georgia State Patrol can be obtained in person or requested via:
Georgia State Patrol
959 E Confederate Ave Se
Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 699-4368
2.) Obtain Your Criminal and Driving History:
A seven year driving history from the Georgia State Patrol and criminal history record from the Georgia Criminal Information Center (GCIC) is important in deciding on an appropriate defense strategy. Information on how to obtain a Georgia Criminal history record
For further information regarding GCIC, contact:
Georgia Crime Information Center
CCH/Identification Services
P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808
Fax: 404-270-8417
Email: gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us for questions regarding criminal history updates/modifications. Or GAApplicant@gbi.ga.gov for questions regarding employment, licensing, visa (travel), or any other non-criminal justice purpose.
Telephone Helpline:
- Option 1: Criminal History Inquiries regarding Expungement or Updates.
- Option 2: Applicant Background Information
- Option 3: Attorney or Public Defender
- Option 4: Livescan or Identification Inquiries
- Option 5: Internet Felon Criminal History
You can obtain a Seven Year Driving History from Georgia Department of Driver Services online, in person, or by mail. A seven year driving history costs $8.00.
Online At: http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1740840381&ty=dl
In Person: At any customer service location listed here: http://www.dds.ga.gov/locations/LocationList.aspx
Proper identification is required. If obtaining a motor vehicle record other than your own, the following is required:
- A signed authorization from the licensee naming the person authorized to receive the record. Form DDS-18(Request for Motor Vehicle Record [MVR]) available here: http://www.dds.ga.gov/docs/forms/DDS-18%20(1-10).pdf, is available for this purpose, but is not required.
- Authorization form or letter must be original. Faxes or copies are not acceptable.
- The full name, date of birth and Georgia driver's license number of the licensee.
- The person receiving the report for another individual must show proper identification.
By Mail: You can obtain a copy of your Driving History (MVR) by submitting a letter (or Form DDS-18, available here: http://www.dds.ga.gov/docs/forms/DDS-18%20(1-10).pdf,) requesting a 7-year MVR. The request should include the following:
- Your full name as it appears on your driver's license
- Driver's license number
- Date of birth
- Complete mailing address
- Self addressed, stamped envelope
To obtain a copy of a Driving History (MVR) for someone else, please complete Form DDS-18 with all required signatures and information.
Requests may be mailed to:
Georgia Department of Driver Services
MVR Request
Post Office Box 80447
Conyers, Georgia 30013
The fee is $6.00 for a 3 year history, and $8.00 for a 7 year history. You may pay by personal or business check, money order, cashier's check, or credit card. DDS accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express by mail.
If paying by credit card, please complete this form: http://www.dds.ga.gov/docs/forms/CreditCardAuthForm.pdf and include with your request: Credit Card Authorization Form, Checks, money orders, and cashier’s checks should be made payable to the Department of Driver Services.
3.) Attend DUI School
For first time offenders, it is a good idea to attend DUI school. A DUI school certificate can be useful in the circumstances of an administrative license suspension. For repeat offenders, immediately attend and document Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation from a qualified psychologist. Information concerning Georgia DUI alcohol and drug evaluations and how to set up an appointment for an evaluation can be found here: http://www.atlantapsych.com/article/georgia-dui-law. Our firm Recommends Darrell Grizzle, Ed. S. He provides all the required drug and alcohol evaluations at reasonable rates.
4.) Revisit the Scene of Arrest.
Photograph the scene of the arrest in order to discover discrepancies in the police report regarding the initial stop and the reasonableness of the field evaluations like the one leg stand and walk and turn.
5.) Request a hearing with the Department of Driver Services:
Requesting a hearing with the Department of Driver Services within ten business days of the arrest may prevent an administrative license suspension. We will prepare and send a license letter to the Department of Driver Services free of charge ($150 DDS processing fee not included) even if you do not retain our firm.
6.) Hire a DUI Lawyer:
Hire a experienced Georgia DUI lawyer. Never attempt self-representation in a DUI case. Georgia DUI law is very complicated, and to ensure a positive case result, is best left to experienced, professional lawyers.
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