Peachtree City Man Arrested After Drunkenly Firing Weapon

Fayette County Sheriff

Peachtree City, Ga. - According to reports out of Fayette County, authorities have arrested a local man this past week after accusing him of getting drunk and shooting a gun within the confines of a neighborhood.

Police arrived to a residence on South Fairfield Drive after receiving multiple calls from neighbors. The man was allegedly walking around outside with a handgun. He told officers that he was just trying to test the gun in the backyard.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of public drunk in the state of Georgia.

Public Drunk in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines public drunk in Georgia in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-41 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.

Being convicted of public drunkenness can result in up to 12 months of jail time as well as fines up to $1,000.

On top of the state law cited above that encompasses public drunkenness, many municipalities and counties enact local ordinances that criminalize similar behavior.   Local ordinances can strip away the requirement that the arrested person act in an indecent condition or act, or by vulgar, profane, loud, or unbecoming language. 

Moreover, local ordinances can simply make being impaired and in public the crime in and of itself.

Practice Note

Call a Georgia DUI Attorney today if you or a loved one has been arrested in connection to an alcohol or drug related offense. We can help you with your case now.