Jail Release and DUI: A Closer Look
When it comes to DUI enforcement, peace officers are currently in catch-up mode. When football teams fall behind and must play catch-up, they play much more aggressively. They pass more on offense and blitz more on defense. Peace officers are in catch-up mode because the number of DUIs surged during and immediately after coronavirus lockdowns. […]
Nationwide Law Enforcement Sweeps Continue
How did a Norcross man get to Indiana without a driver’s’ license? More importantly, why did he get pulled over during a DUI sweep when he apparently hadn’t been drinking? Officer Fisher with the Plymouth Police Department stopped the vehicle at 225 E. Jefferson Street and identified the driver as a 29-year-old man. He was […]
Top Five DUI Defenses
Drinking and driving is deeply embedded in our society. About half of Georgians admit they have driven under the influence of alcohol. The actual percentage is probably much higher. Many people drink and drive and don’t admit it. Furthermore, peace officers aggressively enforce DUI laws. These offenses feed the beast. They keep many police officers, […]
Breaking Down a DUI-Drug Case in Cobb County
Marijuana and other illicit drugs are cheaper and easier to obtain than alcohol in most parts of Cobb County. Therefore, almost half of drivers involved in fatal accidents test positive for drugs. Marijuana is, by far, the leading culprit. Less than 5 percent of these drivers were under the influence of prescription painkillers or another […]
Top Five DUI Checkpoint Requirements in Cobb County
Random checkpoints have a controversial past in America. For many years, law and order proponents basically argued that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. But high-profile wrongful arrests, such as the unfortunate Richard Jewell saga here in our hometown, clearly demonstrate that’s not always the case. Because of these concerns, […]
Holiday DUI Arrests in Cobb County
The winter holidays are rough on many people. About 20 percent of Georgians struggle with severe seasonal affective disorder or the winder blues, a slightly less serious condition. Many people count on the bottle to get them to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. So, it’s not surprising that alcohol consumption increases about 25 percent during […]
Read This If You Were Caught at a Labor Day DUI Checkpoint
The unofficial last weekend of summer usually means baseball, hot dogs, and enhanced DUI enforcement. Admittedly, we got this post up too late to discuss the multiple jail release options following a DUI checkpoint stop. But cases usually take several weeks or months to wind their way through the pre-filing process and arrive in criminal […]
Some Key Flaws in the Field Sobriety Tests
Most jurors assume the DUI FSTs are scientifically reliable. But such assumptions are often wrong. Indeed, a closer examination of the NHTSA-approved three-test battery reveals some significant flaws. The FSTs are vital in all DUI cases. Officers use poor FST performance as an excuse to demand chemical samples. If the defendant refuses to provide that […]
Beating DUI-Drug Charges in Cobb County
Section 40-6-91(a)(2) charges are a real bad news/good news thing. The bad news is that, at least theoretically, these charges are easy to prove in court. Under the law, prosecutors need only prove that the defendant was “Under the influence of any drug to the extent that it is less safe for the person to […]
Are DUI Checkpoints Legal in Georgia?
Lots of people ask this question around Labor Day. DUI checkpoints usually pop up all over Cobb County on this holiday weekend. That’s because many people associate Labor Day with hot food, close friends, good football, and harmless fun. The State of Georgia’s definition of “harmless fun” might be quite different from your definition. And, […]