Ex-Football Player Arrested for Public Intoxication in Georgia

According to reports, former Falcons player, Jamal Anderson, was arrested in Gwinnett County after an incident with his limousine driver. 

He was arrested on charges of public intoxication. The incident allegedly involved Anderson fighting with the driver over paying him. The driver then called Gwinnett County police.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the offense of public intoxication in today's post.

Public Intoxication in Georgia

Public Intoxication in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code as:

A person who shall be and appear in an intoxicated condition in any public place or within the curtilage of any private residence not his own other than by invitation of the owner or lawful occupant, which condition is made manifest by boisterousness, by indecent condition or act, or by vulgar, profane, loud, or unbecoming language, is guilty of a misdemeanor. O.C.G.A. §16-11-41. 

If convicted of a misdemeanor in the state of Georgia, the penalty can include up to $1,000 in fines, 12 months of jail time, or both.

Practice Note

Please take note that just simply being drunk in public is not enough to be charged with Public Drunkenness in Georgia. An individual must be intoxicated and in a public place but also the law requires that the person's behavior must be disorderly or disruptive. 

The state of Georgia must prove that an individual violated the law. There are also county and city ordinances against public intoxication and drunkenness. 

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney today.