The laws on DUIs are ever-changing and each year, thousands of DUI cases are taken up on appeal across the nation. Many of these result in written opinions by judges that then become law. In addition, each new DUI or traffic-related offense in the news has the potential to cause changes in the law. These changes are the result of public reaction to serious car accidents and deaths on the roadways of the United States.
That is why Richard Lawson has developed this website; to provide you with 24-hour access to the latest updates on DUI laws and DUI related news. Our goal is to inform our clients and the general public about the latest news and legal decisions. Accordingly, we update our blog and the entire website daily. All of our articles are written by the Georgia DUI Lawyers that work for our firm or affiliates.
For instance, there has been a flurry of legal activity over the legality of roadblocks, in Georgia and across the nation. Seen as a minor intrusion by some courts and an unnecessary infringement upon Fourth Amendment rights by others, the matter seems far from settled. Roadblocks must be established in accordance with the United States and Georgia Constitutions. The police cannot simply have a roadblock any place or any time they want.
There also has been a rash of injuries and deaths on our roadways. The death or injury of any motorist is a tragedy, and as a result; our legislature reacts to the carnage on the road with new laws designed to curb accidents. That is why our laws change every year.
Another recent change in the law regards the 'Boating Under the Influence' legislation in the State. The Boating code was completely overhauled in 2013; attorneys who do not regularly practice DUI law might be unaware of the new changes to the law.
Knowledge is power, and this blog is designed to help you take the most updated information on your defense. It is our goal for you to use the wealth of information on this site; including the Georgia Information Blog, Resources, and Practice Areas pages to help you decide the best course of action in your DUI case.
A Habitual Violator in Georgia is technically a status that you gain if you have committed three major offenses within a 5 year period of time. Once declared a Habitual Violator, if nothing else happens, your license will be suspended for five years. After being suspended for at least two years, ...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I speak with many individuals on a daily basis who are on probation in Georgia as a result of prior DUI convictions or even other alcohol or drug related offenses. Georgia DUI Penalties are extremely harsh, and even for a First DUI in Georgia, an individual may have to de...
Martavious Parker was fatally hit by a car while crossing Rockbridge Road in DeKalb County last night. According to reports, Parker was walking home after his shift at work when a black sedan traveling eastbound hit him, and he suffered serious injuries and died as a result. The incident was one...
A Georgia DUI arrest tends to start with a traffic offense. This is because a police officer has to have a reason for investigating you for DUI. Our lawyers are experienced in Georgia DUI Defense, which includes any related Georgia traffic offenses related to your DUI charges. Nine times out o...
If you were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) as a result of a DUI checkpoint, it is important to know not only your rights but the requirements of such a checkpoint under Georgia law. While DUI checkpoints are generally considered lawful in Georgia, if they do not meet the specific ...
Movies and Television programming often give clients a slanted view of the criminal justice system. Clients assume their case will go to trial before a jury. However, the majority of DUI proceedings are settled outside of the courtroom through negotiations with the prosecutor's office. Your case ...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I try to incorporate Georgia DUI Defenses into every piece of writing that I do for this website. I think it is of the utmost importance for people to understand that they are not doomed if they are charged with a DUI in Georgia. Most people make the assumption that if t...
Georgia DUI Laws are complicated – however, they become even more complicated when an accident is a part of a your DUI case. Today, as a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus on the offense of Following Too Closely and DUI Accidents in Georgia. Following Too Closely in Georgia The Georgia Code ou...
Unfortunately, Georgia DUI Expungement does not exist- there is no way to expunge a DUI from your record. Again, a DUI conviction on someone's criminal record can NEVER be expunged or removed. When someone gets a DUI in Georgia, they face severe Georgia DUI Penalties. A Georgia DUI on someone's...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I have a lot of experience with clients who have refused sobriety testing during a DUI arrest. It's tough to make a decision when being confronted with either submitting or refusing a Georgia breath and blood test when you've been accused of driving under the influence. T...
Benjamin Harris Rollins has been charged with DUI, vehicular homicide, driving with a suspended license, and hit-and-run after an accident last Friday. Rollins was driving home from Moon Shadow Tavern in Tucker when he hit another car head-on. One person died at the scene while another passenger ...
Police officers have a duty to use only reasonable and necessary force when making an arrest. In some cases officers take it too far, using force in such a way that goes beyond the legal standard. Sometimes this leads to the dismissal of certain charges or even entire cases. Every arrest in uniqu...
The submission of a video submitted by a parent has caused the DeKalb County School District to investigate one of its bus drivers. The video was taken by the parent after they witnessed a bus driver allegedly on her phone texting while steering with her other hand. The video shows her driving o...
When convicted of DUI in Georgia, there are various harsh Georgia DUI Penalties that can be ordered by the Judge in each particular case. One of the least harsh, but still time-consuming penalties is Court-Mandated Community Service in Georgia. A judge can also order community service for some t...
There's been a lot of reports of hit and runs or better known as the offense of Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia in the news recently. The most recent report was on Saturday when DeKalb County police found a body in a ditch near the intersection of Thompson Mill and Rock Spring. The ...
When an officer in Georgia has a legitimate and valid reason for pulling you over, stopping you, or questioning you - you cannot flee or hinder the investigation. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I often explain that most Georgia DUI arrests begin with routine traffic stops for a traffic offense. The ha...
Whenever I get a call from someone who is facing their first DUI in Georgia, I take the time to explain the Georgia DUI Process because it is not only complicated but very overwhelming. In fact, most Georgians are unaware that there are two different court hearings. These court hearings include ...
When most people think about DUI in Georgia, they think of alcohol. Most people are unaware that you can actually get a charge of DUI Drugs in Georgia if driving unsafely under the influence of drugs - either prescription or illegal. What is DUI Drugs in Georgia? Georgia law defines DUI Drugs a...
If you are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia, you are required to attend DUI school as part of your sentence. DUI school is more formally known as a Risk Reduction Program, and knowing your requirements is a part of moving forward after a DUI arrest. An experienced Georgia...
Many of our clients come to us after being arrested for a DUI and immediately ask if they can get their case reduced to a lesser charge of reckless driving. In spite of the request, clients do not understand the benefits of a reduction of their Georgia DUI case to reckless driving. Even fewer p...
The short answer is “yes.” You can get a DUI the next morning. Many people believe they can sober up the morning after and that they are not in danger of receiving a DUI. While some people can go out drinking the night before and are fine the next day, that is not always the case. Some people co...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I notice trends of charges that go together. I've written many posts about charges and related offenses to DUI in Georgia. Today, I'd like to focus on distracted driving and following too closely as they are highly related to DUI. Distracted Driving Distracted driving...
The results from Georgia DUI Breath and Blood Tests are usually one of the main forms of evidence that the state of Georgia has against you in a DUI case. Most people do not know that the officers must read a Georgia Implied Consent Notice before administering these tests. There are different...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, it's important for me to write about the leading causes of DUI in Georgia. There are many related offenses toDUI in Georgia including: Failure to Maintain Lane in Georgia Following too Closely in Georgia Illegal U-Turns in Georgia These are just a few examples whi...
I write about Georgia DUI Laws often because they are complicated, and I believe that Georgians should know what the laws are in their state. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I know that there is a lot of misinformation spread around about DUI in Georgia. One of the most common misconceptions about dri...
At the Law Office of Richard S. Lawson, we have offices conveniently located throughout metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. If we do not have a convenient office, we will come to you. We practice throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. If your case is in an area we do not serve, we will find you an attorney in your area free of charge. Our office is part of a State-wide network of Georgia DUI Lawyers. Contact us 24/7 for immediate legal help. Our attorneys are standing by. Your DUI Case will not defend itself. Your Best Georgia DUI Defense Begins Here!
