Atlanta DUI Court Appearance
There are a number of reason why someone might miss their Atlanta DUI court date. However, missing a court appearance should not be ignored, and the longer it is ignored, the more complicated it may be to rectify the situation. It will not go away, and you should consider contacting an Atlanta DUI lawyer who can help clear up the problem, address the DUI charges, and prevent any further problems with the courts or police over the DUI arrest.
After an Atlanta DUI arrest, there may be a number of court appearances you will have to attend. If you retained a Georgia DUI lawyer, then your attorney will be able to take care of most of the court appearances without you even having to show up. If you have not retained an attorney, then you will have to be present for the court appearances. Failing to appear, or getting there too late can have a negative impact on your case.
Appearing On Your Court Date
Your first court date will generally be the arraignment. During the arraingment, the county solicitor or district attorney will enter formal charges against you, and you will have to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, additional court dates will depend on whether motions are filed, when a trial takes place, and how long the trial lasts.
If you do not appear for your arraignment, the state will issue a failure to appear (FTA). An FTA will result in your driver's license being suspended indefinitely, until the FTA is resolved, and all DDS requirements are met. In addition, an FTA will result in a bench warrant. A bench warrant is a warrant for your arrest issued by the judge in charge of your case. Even if you have a legitimate reason for missing the court date, such as a family or medical emergency, you will have to address the FTA before you can move forward with your case.
A bench warrant may not immediately result in the police or Fulton County Sheriff's office breaking down your door, but it can still end in your arrest. Anytime after a warrant has been issued, if the police stop you for a traffic violation, or state officials check your name, the bench warrant will show up and you will be arrested. Getting arrested for a bench warrant will land you in jail, and make your case much more complicated and costly. An attorney can get your bench warrant resolved, help get your driver's license reinstated, and finally address the underlying DUI charges.
Atlanta DUI Court Lawyer
You must take all of your DUI court appearances seriously because a failure to appear can result in a warrant for your arrest, cost you additional money and even land you in jail. Contact an experienced Atlanta DUI defense lawyer if you have missed your DUI court date, in order to clear up the absence and take care of any bench warrants. If you have been arrested for a DUI in Georgia, call me today so I will be able to appear for you in court, to can keep your driving privileges, and fight so that your arrest does not end in a conviction.