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.
It has been reported in the AJC that Georgia State Legislators have introduced legislation that will require a refill every five days for certain ADHD medications such as Ritalin ®. First, it was medications that contain Pseudoephedrine, and now it is medication for our kids. The point of these ...
If you are stopped for a DUI off base, you may wonder, does the process differ for servicemen? In short, it doesn't. You may have heard anecdotes about traffic stops from your coworkers, that an officer will soften up when shown your CAC card. E-1's can be heard enthusing in mess hall conversatio...
One such incident occurred this past Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Officer Scott York was driving on his way to an accident when he drove up on the curb and struck two pedestrians and two parked cars. The officer told investigators he traveled into the center lane in an...
Who doesn't love the Super Bowl? Great football, Funny commercials, and best of all, amazing food! The Super Bowl is a great time to get together with friends and family and enjoy the All-American game of football, especially if you are a Falcons Fan… RISE UP! One of the things that usually doe...
Driving under the influence can impact your military career, but the amount of impact will vary by scale of offense and your particular branch. There are a number of variables to remember regarding military DUIs, and it's better to know and understand them before you find yourself pulling over fo...
Georgia law not only criminalizes driving under the influence of alcohol, but it also criminalizes driving under the influence of drugs. O.C.G.A § 40-6-391(a) sets out six methods of proving that a person is driving under the influence (“DUI”) of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances. ...
When a person pleads guilty to a first-time DUI offense in Georgia, they will qualify for a limited permit from Driver' Services. This Limited permit restricts the use of a license but still allows the driver to operate his or her vehicle under a few exceptions. If pulled over, a person's limited...
One possible consequence that a person who is convicted of driving under the influence may face is having to install an ignition interlock device in his or her vehicle. When this device is installed in a vehicle, the driver must provide a breath sample in order to start his or her car. If the dev...
Many criminal offenses, including DUI, include community service as part of the sentence. For that reason, depending on the offense and jurisdiction, we usually advise our clients to perform community service before the scheduled court date. We do this for a few reasons. First, doing community ...
Younger drivers must drive with extra care. Drivers under the age of 21 must not only abide by stricter driving laws, but they also face harsher consequences for violating the rules of the road. It is well known that the legal limit for drivers over 21 years of age is 0.08. It is less well kno...
In June 2016, the United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling in a trio of cases on the issue of warrantless chemical tests used to measure a driver's blood-alcohol content (BAC). These cases were consolidated and heard together by the high court. Two of the cases were from North Dakota -- B...
Record Restriction is a legal process in Georgia that allows you to have your criminal convictions cleared and the court file of the case sealed. There used to be a process called expungement where you could get your arrest and conviction records sealed but Georgia no longer has record expungemen...
Using Your Phone While Driving is Illegal in Georgia: We have all been warned about the dangers of cell phone usage while driving. All of us have seen the horror stories on television of those seriously injured or killed as a result of texting and driving. The Georgia General Assembly has passed...
More and more people in the United States are expressing their support for marijuana legalization. According to NBC, a 2016 Pew Research Center study found that "57 percent of U.S. adults say marijuana should be made legal, compared to just 32 percent a decade ago." Prior to the election this pas...
Unlike in other states, thankfully our legislature is part-time. It convenes the second Monday of January and ends 40 days later. This is good news. The less time they are in session, the less they can pass laws that serve no purpose. Endless Revisions of Georgia's DUI Laws: In my 21 years as ...
Drink less; lose weight; save money; be kind to others; get more rest; follow the golden rule. These are just some of the many new year's resolutions we all make, yet, we all rarely keep our promises. Zig Ziglar once said: “Never make a promise without a plan.” His point is that without dire...
According to the AJC, a 20-year-old Georgia State University Student was killed driving on icy roads south of Atlanta. This tragedy should impress all of us to stay off the roads when warned by the Georgia DOT. Many people assume that because they have four-wheel drive vehicle that they can dr...
In the past ten years, social media use has grown by leaps and bounds. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2015, 65% of adults were using social media. This was a significant increase from 2005 when just 7% of adults were doing so. Some of the most popular social media sites are Facebook, Tw...
GA law mandates a 12-month sentence in DUI cases. Judges usually allow DUI offenders to serve most of this sentence on probation rather than in custody. While on probation, you must follow certain conditions, which typically include reporting to your probation officer, not violating any new crimi...
At least three times a week I am asked whether my Georgia DUI can be expunged. Usually, the caller is someone who entered a guilty plea in their late teens or early twenties and now is finding that their criminal record is limiting their opportunities. The answer is straightforward and disappoin...
Happy New Year! As we relax with family or celebrate with friends, always make sure to make wise decisions insofar as drinking and driving is concerned. While we are celebrating, the Georgia State Patrol along with other local law enforcement agencies are getting ready too by setting out DUI chec...
As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I have always had mixed feelings about whether a person should be arrested for a DUI after they voluntarily pulled over and stopped driving. In practice, what happens is that the police come upon a parked car where they see someone sleeping inside it. They do a "safety c...
Drive Safely and Sober: When getting together with family and friends this holiday season, never forget that the Georgia State Patrol is on duty enforcing Georgia's DUI Laws. The fact that it is Christmas will not deter the police from making an arrest because the Police are sworn to protect th...
When someone gets a DUI in Georgia, there are many direct and indirect consequences. However, these penalties only happen if a person is convicted of the DUI. Our first job is to look for defenses to avoid a DUI conviction. Herein are the top 5 consequences of a Georgia DUI. 1. Loss of Licens...
The report of news reporter Amanda Davis' arrest for driving with a suspended license should draw attention to something we tell all of our clients. If your license is suspended in Georgia for any reason, you must take steps to reinstate it. The Georgia Department of Drivers Services will not a...
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!
