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  • Clark & Towne Books
    28.11.11
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    101 Ways to Beat a Marijuana Charge in GeorgiaDavid Clark's book "101 Ways to Beat a Marijuana Charge in Georgia" is a comprehensive guide to getting out of a marijuana charge in Georgia. Mr. Clark, a former Judge, provides inside tips from his 22 years of experience as one of Georgia's top criminal defense lawyers defending pot smokers. All proceeds benefit Georgia NORML.

    how to choose a Georgia DUI lawyer bookJessica Towne's FREE book "How to Choose a Georgia DUI Lawyer" guides you through choosing an attorney. A criminal defense and trial lawyer for over 22 years, Ms. Towne shows you how to cut through the talk and find the best qualified attorney for your case.

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What to do if you get an out-of-state DUI
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Many people don't know what to do when they are arrested in another state for DUI. Part of the reason for this is because each state has different penalties for DUI.  This means you definitely need a DUI lawyer in the state where your charges are pending plus a Georgia DUI lawyer so that both you and your out-of-state lawyer understand what will happen to your license.  For example, in Georgia, the penalties for a first DUI include a one year license suspension*.  In Tennessee, it's 90 days.

If you are a Georgia licensee but are convicted of a DUI in Tennessee, your suspension will be for 90 days.  Remember that asterisk?  If you lose your license in Georgia due to a Georgia DUI conviction, you can ask the Department of Driver Services to issue an immediate work
permit so you can drive again.  Most of the time DDS issues the work permit right away and
offers early reinstatement of your full license after 120 days with proof of DUI School and a large fee (remember, the full suspension in Georgia is really one year).

However, if you are convicted of DUI in another state, the Georgia DDS will not issue you a work permit until the state where you were convicted lifts its suspension.  So if you get your DUI in
Tennessee and lose your license for 90 days,
Georgia will not issue you a work permit until those 90 days are over - and after those 90 days, you'll still need to wait another 30 days to reinstate, and you may want a work permit during that time.

What I regularly tell my clients is this: if you're arrested in another state and charged with a DUI on your Georgia license, hire a local, competent DUI lawyer in the state where you were arrested and then contact a Georgia attorney for advice on how to obtain a work permit as soon as possible.  I am happy to refer you to a DUI attorney in the state, county or municipality where you need one.