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.
Roadblocks, also known as checkpoints, are one of the tools Georgia police officers use to determine whether drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Under the Fourth Amendment, an officer must have a reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal wrongdoing to stop your vehicle. Whe...
On Monday an automobile collided with a tractor-trailer in Marietta on I75. The driver of the car has suffered potentially life-threatening injuries. The accident shut down parts of Interstate 75 as police investigators tried to reconstruct the accident. Ordinarily, the Georgia State Patrol A...
In November 2012, Sherri Lynn Wilkins, age 53, left her substance abuse counseling center and struck and killed 31 year-old, Philip Moreno. Moreno was left dying on the hood of Wilkins's car while Wilkins drove 2 additional miles. Citizen motorists swarmed her car and blocked her movements befor...
Barrow County News reports that DUI arrests have increased in Winder, Georgia. Increased patrols and government concentration on DUI enforcement have almost doubled arrests since 2012. Cpl. Chris Wigner of the Winder Police Department has been particularly credited for increased enforcement. His...
Around 3:00 a.m. today, a car driven by Jessica M. Johnson was involved in a car accident involving a motorcycle. The accident happened near the downtown I75/I85 connector in Atlanta. After clipping the motorcycle while trying to merge, a female passenger fell off and was run-over. Johnson has...
According to the warrant released yesterday, the man accused of killing his toddler by leaving him unattended in a hot vehicle researched child deaths inside vehicles before the incident. Justin Harris of Marietta Georgia has allegedly told authorities that he had researched child deaths in auto...
The Fourth of July the second-most-deadly holiday period of the year, just behind New Year's, due to impaired driving. All drivers should take the necessary steps to avoid being charged with DUI. DUI arrests are costly and can have lifetime consequences. More importantly, you could hurt anothe...
Police say an Alabama man has been arrested and charged with murder after he ran over a Douglas County woman Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2:15 PM near the Highway 5 and Douglas Boulevard intersection. Chris Womack, Douglasville's Chief of Police, reported that Dewey Calhoun Green, 23, ...
People represented by another lawyer call me almost every day. Sometimes the caller is someone that I spoke to before he or she decided to retain different counsel. It's surprising that I usually remember the people who call my office, and that I tend to remember the facts and circumstances of ...
A Gwinnett County mother was arrested early Sunday for DUI. Her two children, ages seven and four, were with her. Rashanda Horsley, 29, was driving along River Road in Lawrenceville when she crossed the centerline of the road and almost struck a police officer head-on. Her children were in the...
A Mableton man has been arrested and charged with Hit-And-Run for the death of pedestrian Harry Maurent, 30, of Austell on May 18, 2014. Cobb County Police had asked the public to come forward with any information on the vehicle or its possible driver. Witnesses had described the vehicle as a m...
Many courts, including the City of Atlanta Municipal Court, offer Pretrial Diversion Programs. If your case is eligible, by completing a Pretrial Diversion Program, your charges will be dismissed and potentially expunged from your criminal record. With the goal of preventing future crime, most d...
According to today's AJC report, the arrest warrant for Justin Ross Harris alleges that he went to lunch on the day in question. As a result, he would have certainly known his child was in his unattended vehicle while he was at work. It also shows clear and obvious criminal intent. Criminal i...
Courtroom attire may seem obvious to some, yet I often see security refuse to allow people into the courtroom because of unpermitted clothing. Further, permitted but inappropriate clothing may prove offensive to court staff, the prosecutor, and most importantly the judge. Keep in mind that offe...
A metro-Atlanta father, Justin Ross Harris, 33, is being accused of murder after leaving his 22-month-old son in his car near Cumberland Mall on June 18, 2014. Reports say that Harris forgot that he did not drop his toddler off at daycare, and left the child in the car when he went to work. Whe...
The Forsyth Sheriff's Office have arrested two of the passengers that were in involved in the DUI accident that claimed the life of Paul Louis Castell, Jr. on June 1, 2014 Authorities have said they believe that mere minutes after leaving a party, a pickup truck with five teenaged passengers st...
Atlanta Police have impounded a Dodge Nitro they believe could be the automobile that hit bicyclist Greg Germani on June 9th. Law enforcement received a tip and found the damaged SUV Monday. Police have been searching for such a vehicle since the hit-and-run incident. Police say that Germa...
Even though my website specifically states that we are available on weekends, nights, and holidays, many are surprised we are really available to talk. When a person is arrested in Atlanta, the case will be set for the next business day. Since no person at the jail knows who will have the reso...
Police officers in suburban Ohio cited a man for warning motorists with a sign reading: "Check point ahead! Turn now!" The Cleveland man, Douglas Odolecki, 43, insists that the police officers violated his First Amendment right to free speech by issuing him a citation for alerting upcoming driv...
Around 3:00 AM on Sunday, a driver hit two pedestrians on Buford Highway. One of these pedestrians died and the other is in critical condition. The driver of this vehicle was not held at fault, but interestingly, Brookhaven police are saying that both pedestrians may have been drunk. Of c...
“DUI Court” in Georgia refers to a treatment program for repeat DUI offenders. In lieu of severe punishment, people can opt to agree to a court-supervised treatment program. The program is rigorous and failure to comply with the program guidelines can result in severe sanctions, including time ...
The Fourth of July is right around the corner. Americans love to celebrate this holiday of our freedom with cookouts, pool parties, and just spending time with family and friends. In gearing up for the Fourth, the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety is launching their “Operation Zero To...
New laws go into affect July 1st allowing more and more driver-related services to be handled online. Georgia has truly been ahead of the curve in adopting online access to driver services, with a goal of helping our citizens spend less time waiting in unnecessary lines. On July 1, 2014, Georg...
Kisha Young, 38, of Crowley, Texas was arrested Tuesday evening for “intoxication assault” after four children between the ages of 8 and 14 fell off the trunk and hood of her car. Two other children were also on top of the car, but did not fall off. A mom of one of the injured children was als...
A Covington man arrested for a DUI and vehicular homicide in 2011 was arrested again for DUI. A possible emergency bond revocation hearing could keep him behind bars for a while. He will need a top-rated Rockdale County DUI Lawyer. Ricky Todd Guice, 41, was arrested Sunday after running into t...
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!
