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.
To start, I think the "move-over law is a good idea. Police officers risk their lives for us every day. Enforcing our traffic laws can be dangerous. Several police officers have been injured, and a few have been killed while doing their jobs. NO ONE WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN. That being said, the...
It is essential to dress appropriately when attending court. Like everything else in life, people are judged based on their appearance. When a person is a party to a lawsuit, criminal case, or traffic ticket, they are very often judged by the first impression they make. For all those who prote...
I am intrigued by the news that White, Georgia's Chief of Police and one of his officers were able to pull off one of the most corrupt police schemes in Georgia history. The GBI investigated Police Chief David King and Officer Blake Sheff for arresting people on false charges and later reducing t...
One of the most difficult consequences of a DUI conviction is time spent without the privilege to drive. One of the worst things a person can do is be caught driving while their license is suspended. The consequences can include: Violation of probation Additional jail time A minimum of six...
It has been 26 years since the introduction of the Internet, and the new phenomenon of social media is all everyone ever seems to talk about. It was to no one's surprise when thousands big companies like Target, FOX News, and Time Magazine jumped on the social media bandwagon. The relatively free...
I was texting my content editor tonight when she asked me whether people are made whole again after they are found "not guilty" at trial or if their case is dismissed. The answer is not only "no," but it is even worse for an exonerated person. There are tremendous costs associated with a succes...
Many times prospective clients call me and tell me their prior offense is not on their record. Unfortunately, that is rarely true. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation regarding how the Georgia Criminal Information Computer (GCIC) works. To begin with, when arrested for shoplifting, ...
During the first two years of my legal career, a person could plead “Nolo” to DUI under certain circumstances. The no contest plea would save their driver's license, and a person could honestly answer that rather than being convicted, they choose not to fight their charges. Since July 1997, the...
Travel to our northern neighbor is common for tourists and business people alike. Since Canada and the United States are so closely associated, sometimes people forget that it is a foreign country with its own laws. In Canada, DUI is considered a serious felony offense. As a result, they genera...
Many years ago I was lecturing a person about being irresponsible; looking back, I was an ass. The prospective client rebuked me and said that if it weren't for people who make mistakes in judgment, I would not have a job. I have remembered that comment for almost 20 years. People make mistake...
No. There never is a reason to have a conversation with a police officer, even if you have not committed a crime. For all practical purposes, nothing can be gained by an encounter with the police. The best possible outcome of a police encounter is that you are no worse off than before; becaus...
Recently, I ran into Ann Shafer, ex-wife of legendary Georgia attorney Herb Shafer. Although divorced, Ann always remained close to Herb. Herb passed away in 2014 at age 93 but practiced law until age 92. He defended the Constitution of the United States unlike any other lawyer. He once said,...
In the wake of Antonin Scalia's unexpected death, there has been a great deal of discussions as to the future makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court. No matter his successor, Scalia will most certainly go down as one of the greatest Justices this nation has seen. His name remembered next to the great J...
The question about whether a person can legally drive while under the influence is a trick question. Of course, a person cannot intentionally drive under the influence or alcohol or drugs. However, there is one instance when the behavior may be excused: when there is a necessity to drive to pr...
There is no greater defining example of unfairness than how people are released on bail. The wealthy and middle class easily afford bail and are released immediately. However, the poor have a great deal of problems posting bail or securing a bond. The impact on people who cannot secure pre-tri...
It has been the position of my office that field sobriety tests are often misinterpreted by police officers. Due to subjective nature of the tests, police officers often see clues that are either naturally occurring or unrelated to impairment. The issue of the false positive is even more preva...
Recently Ted Cruz and Donald Trump have threatened to sue one another for statements made during the Republican Primary season. The threat of lawsuits between politicians makes me want to go a bit off topic. Slander, Libel, and Defamation First, to understand the law we need to understand the ...
Almost every driver has tapped an unoccupied vehicle; most of the time there is no damage. However, modern cars are designed to protect the occupants, not their paint job. As a result, even minor taps can cause a dent. The law in Georgia is governed by O.C.G.A. 40-6-271: (Duty upon striking un...
No. There is much confusion as to Georgia's role in the Interstate License Compact. Georgia participates in the compact in every way but one: Georgia will start a person's license with no points if they come to Georgia with a valid license or clearance letter from their former licensing state. ...
Should Apple Give the FBI a “Back Door?” Earlier this week Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, released a letter http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/ to its customers stating the grounds of the FBI's request for Apple to “reasonably assist” in hacking iPhone security features in investigations. Somewhere ar...
With the death of Justice Scalia, the political landscape in Washington will soon be irrevocably altered. Rather than discussing party politics, it is constructive to look at why court decisions matter: For more than 200 years, our republic has been governed by the idea that our Constitution li...
Can a Person Hire an Affordable Georgia DUI Lawyer? The good news is there are many affordable Georgia DUI Attorneys. The bad news is many defense attorneys fail to fulfill their role as a zealous advocate for their clients. There is a certain amount of time necessary to provide a proper defens...
I have written before that getting a single DUI does not mean a person is an alcoholic. For most of my clients, an arrest is the result of bad habits and lack of planning. As common as DUI is in Georgia, no one has to get one. Most of the standard advice include getting a car service or having...
At the end of Casablanca, Rick shoots the Nazi trying to prevent Elsa's plane from escaping. At that moment, Louie, the semi-collaborating French Officer, has to decide whether to turn Rick in or let him go. Faced with this choice, Louie says “round up the usual suspects.” How Does This Apply ...
The Importance of establishing a good relationship between clients and attorneys: I have been talking about movies lately, and it dawned on me that not every movie is worth seeing. Some movies are of a genre that does not appeal to me; other movies are just not very good. However, there is obvi...
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!
