Pleading No Contest in Georgia
After being charged with driving under the influence, you will need to make an appearance in court. This is referred to as an “arraignment.” During an arraignment, you will be asked to enter a plea about your DUI charge. In Georgia, you have three pleas that you may offer in court: guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere. Nolo contendere, or “no contest” is a Latin legal term meaning “I will not contend it.”
In criminal trials, a no contest plea means that you neither admit nor dispute the charges against you. This plea is meant as an alternative to pleading guilty or not guilty.
While a plea of no contest is not technically a guilty plea, it produces a similar effect as pleading guilty. This plea is typically offered as a part of a plea bargain. It is important to note that if you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, your case will not go to trial.
Pleading no contest is not a right. For example, drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 percent or higher or a prior DUI are ineligible to plead nolo. The judge usually determines whether circumstances allow an individual to enter a plea of no contest.
While a no contest plea may have the same immediate effects as a guilty plea, the residual effects or consequences in future actions may be entirely different. For example, if you plead no contest in a DUI case, you are subject to identical fines and penalties as though you’ve pled guilty. A nolo contendere plea can also receive consideration in future criminal cases. However, your plea of no contest cannot be used as an admission of negligence or malice if you are sued in civil court.
If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence in Georgia, it is important that you hire attorney Frank Gomez who is experienced with DUI defense. He is an expert in discussing the particulars of your case with you to determine the best plea for you during arraignment.
If you are interested in hearing from top-notch DUI defense attorney Frank Gomez, please fill out our convenient online form now.
