Tips for Garden City, GA Municipal Court
If you are arrested in Garden City, Georgia then you will likely appear in the Garden City Municipal Court.
Because every court is different, it is important to know what you’re going to face when you go to court. Here are some tips to help you with your Garden City Municipal Court appearance:
- Like other small courts, Garden City allows you to have a probable cause hearing. That means that even if you want to plea not guilty and defend yourself in Chatham County State Court, you can still have a hearing in Garden City to get a heads up of what the officer will say when he testifies. You should take advantage of this useful and important tool. the evidence in your case is minimal, the judge may lower your charges to an unreported city ordinance violation.
- There is a solicitor in Garden City Municipal Court, and he usually gives great deference to what the arresting officer wants to do with a case. If you get to court early, you may be able to talk to your arresting officer and see if they will help you work out a favorable plea agreement.
- You have the right to an attorney and if you don’t have one at your first appearance, you can get a continuance in your case to give you time to get an attorney. Always have an attorney with you. This is crucial to making the most out of your case. Having an attorney will also help you get your case heard first, before those who are unrepresented.
- The city boundaries of Garden City overlap Interstate 16. Consequently, the Municipal Court handles a lot of DUI offenses. If a case does not appear to be a strong DUI case (for example, if a breath test reveals a 0.09 BAC, barely over the legal limit), then they may lower your charges and allow you to plead guilty to Reckless Driving or Failure to Exercise Due Care. That could save you lots of money in fines, and it could ultimately save you your driver’s license and ability to drive in the state of Georgia.
Knowing what to expect in your court is an important component of fighting your case. For more information, call us today.