Firm Overview
About Us
The Law Office of R. Andres Marierose
Our firm is passionate about defending your criminal and immigration matters in the Atlanta metro area. We represent clients to obtain immigration benefits and defend against adverse government action, such as deportation. We help our immigration clients obtain visas, green cards, work permits, and naturalization through any and all means available under the current immigration system. We handle a variety of matters in the state and municipal courts, including possession charges and ordinance violations among others. In general, if you find yourself charged with a crime, the smart move is to hire an experienced, honest lawyer immediately.
MOST COMMON CRIMINAL CHARGES
For criminal matters, we vigorously defend our clients from charges of DUI, driving without a license, possession, traffic violations, city ordinances, and other matters in the municipal and state courts. When our clients have both criminal and immigration charges, our team of experienced attorneys know how to pursue resolutions to the criminal charges to avoid the devastating immigration consequences some charges can have.
DUI
In Georgia, a driver can be charged with DUI for being in control of a vehicle while under the influence of any substance that impairs judgement, including alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, or any other substance that makes the driver less safe. If the driver has a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams or more, or if the officer alleges that the driver refused to submit to the test, then a civil process is put into motion where DDS will administratively suspend the driver’s license. The driver only has 30 days to appeal the automatic suspension. If the appeal is filed within 30 days, a hearing will be scheduled where our attorneys can try to prevent the suspension. Once the administrative process is handled, the criminal process must still be addressed.
Penalties for a first offense DUI conviction can include a fine of no less than $300, at least 40 hours of community, at least 24 hours in jail, completion of a DUI risk reduction program, clinical evaluation for drug dependency (at your expense), probation, suspension of license, or any combination of the above. For subsequent offenses within ten years, the penalties are even more severe.
A DUI conviction can have a lasting impact on your employment, insurance premiums, immigration status, and overall quality of life. If you have been charged with DUI, the attorneys at R.A.M. Law can help. Just because you were charged does not mean you are guilty. Your case could be thrown out for countless reasons, or in the very least our attorneys can pursue strategies to minimize the impact on your life.
DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE
If you have been charged with Driving Without a License or Driving with a Suspended License, the mandatory minimum penalty in Georgia is a $500 fine and two days in jail if convicted. The penalty could be as harsh as a $1000 fine, up to one year in jail, a possible loss of your license for an additional six months beyond a current suspension, defensive driving classes, and multiple reinstatement fees. For a second offense, the penalty is even more severe, and includes a minimum of ten days in jail and a fine from $1000 to $2500, in addition to the other penalties the court may impose. While the first three charges of driving without a license in Georgia are misdemeanors, a fourth conviction in a five-year period is a felony.
If you have been charged with Driving Without a License, or Driving with a Suspended License, our attorneys can help. In some cases, the charges may be dismissed altogether, reduced to less serious offenses, or a strategy pursued to minimize the impact on your life, such as negotiating suspended jail time.