Charged with DUI?
If you were arrested in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, or the surrounding North Fulton area, there may be important steps you can take early to better position yourself moving forward.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you call—that’s what we’re here for.
Charged with DUI?
If you were arrested in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, or the surrounding North Fulton area, there may be important steps we can take early t better position yourself moving forward.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you call—that’s what we’re here for.
Start your defense NOW
A DUI arrest in Georgia is serious—but a DUI arrest is not the same as a DUI conviction.
The decisions you make after an arrest can have a significant impact on what happens next.
A DUI can put your driver’s license, finances, and even your freedom at risk, but being charged does not mean the worst-case scenario is inevitable.
Getting an experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer involved early can help you understand what you’re facing, protect your rights, and identify opportunities to challenge the State’s case and reduce the consequences.
How Can a DUI Lawyer Help?
An experienced attorney can look beyond the fact that you were arrested and examine what actually happened. That may include reviewing the traffic stop, police reports, body-camera footage, field sobriety tests, chemical testing, and other evidence to identify potential legal or factual issues in the State’s case.
Your attorney can also help you understand the potential consequences you are facing, address issues involving your driving privileges, negotiate with prosecutors when appropriate, and prepare a defense tailored to the specific facts of your case.
Most importantly, you do not have to navigate an unfamiliar legal process alone.
At The Caruso Firm, we understand that a DUI arrest can feel overwhelming. Our role is not to judge you—it is to help you understand what comes next, identify your options, and build a defense focused on protecting your rights and your future.
A DUI stop can move quickly. An officer may ask questions about where you have been or whether you have been drinking, observe your behavior, and ask you to perform roadside field sobriety evaluations. Depending on what happens during the investigation, the officer may decide there is probable cause to make an arrest.
Knowing your rights can help you stay calm and make informed decisions in an otherwise stressful situation. Understanding what you are—and are not—required to do allows you to exercise those rights appropriately, avoid making an already difficult situation more complicated, and create the best possible environment for yourself moving forward.
What About Breath, Blood, or Urine Testing?
After a DUI arrest, an officer may ask you to submit to a State-administered chemical test of your breath, blood, or urine. This is an important decision because both taking the test and refusing it can have consequences.
In Georgia, refusing a State-administered chemical test can trigger an administrative suspension of your driving privileges. Georgia DDS states that an implied-consent refusal can result in a minimum one-year license suspension, separate from whether you are ultimately convicted of DUI.
So why would anyone consider refusing? Because taking a chemical test may give the State additional evidence to use in a DUI prosecution. But refusing does not automatically make the DUI case go away—and depending on the type of test and circumstances, the refusal itself may also become relevant to the case.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether refusing was the “right” decision. The type of test requested, what happened before the request, whether a warrant was involved, your driving history, and other facts can all matter. And if you already made that decision on the side of the road, don't assume you ruined your case. You made a decision during a stressful moment with limited information. A DUI lawyer can look at what actually happened, explain the consequences, determine what options may still be available, and help you decide what to do next. This is exactly where having a lawyer in your corner matters.
What If My BAC Is Below .08?
A BAC below .08 does not automatically mean that you cannot be charged with DUI in Georgia. Georgia law also allows a person to be charged with DUI when alcohol or drugs have made them a “less safe” driver, meaning the State may pursue a DUI case even without a BAC of .08 or higher.
Know Your Rights—But Don't Make the Situation Harder
Knowing your rights does not mean you need to prove your case on the side of the road. Staying calm, paying attention to what is happening, and making thoughtful decisions can help prevent an already stressful situation from becoming more complicated. Remember: an arrest is the beginning of a case—not the final outcome.
Once you are able to do so, contacting an experienced Georgia DUI attorney can help you understand what happened during the stop, whether your rights were protected, what evidence may be used against you, and what options you have moving forward.
At The Caruso Firm, we look at the entire DUI investigation—not simply the fact that an arrest occurred. Our job is to identify the issues that matter, protect your rights, and help you make informed decisions about what comes next.
The cost of hiring a DUI lawyer in Georgia can vary significantly, but DUI defense fees may range from roughly $1,500 to $10,000 or more, depending on the case and the scope of representation.
A relatively straightforward first-offense case that is resolved without trial may cost less, while a case involving complicated evidence, motions, expert witnesses, prior offenses, or trial can cost considerably more.
Some DUI attorneys charge a flat fee for certain stages of a case, while others structure their fees differently. The most important thing is to understand what your quoted fee actually includes.
What Are You Paying a DUI Lawyer to Do?
When you hire a DUI attorney, you aren't simply paying someone to appear in court with you.
You're hiring someone to:
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Examine the reason for the traffic stop
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Review police reports and body-camera footage
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Evaluate field sobriety and chemical testing
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Look for weaknesses in the State's evidence
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Protect your rights and driving privileges
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Negotiate when appropriate
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Build a defense strategy around the facts of your case
The least expensive attorney is not necessarily the least expensive outcome.
A DUI can potentially affect your driving privileges, employment, insurance costs, finances, and freedom. When choosing an attorney, consider not only what the representation costs, but also the experience, attention, and level of defense you are receiving for that investment.
TIP! Ask What's Included
Before hiring a DUI lawyer, make sure you understand exactly what the quoted fee covers. Ask whether it includes court appearances, motions, hearings, issues involving your driver's license, negotiations, and trial—or whether some of those services require additional fees.
At The Caruso Firm, we believe you should understand what you're facing and what your representation will involve. A consultation gives us an opportunity to learn about your case, answer your questions, and discuss the cost of representation based on your specific circumstances.
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The cost of a DUI lawyer in Georgia depends on the complexity of the case, the attorney’s experience level, and other factors. The average fee for a DUI case is around $2,500 and can range anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. The fee could be higher if the case goes to trial or is more complex.
In general, you will want to hire an attorney with a demonstrated track record of success and expertise in DUI cases. Look for an attorney who is familiar with the local laws, as well as Georgia’s implied consent law.
A DUI Arrest Brings a Lot of Questions. Start With Clear Answers.
You don’t need to know what happens next—that’s what we’re here for. Talk with The Caruso Firm about what happened, what options may be available, and the steps we can take together to move forward.
Frequently asked questions
