A DUI for the New Year
By David McKenzie, Georgia Lawyer specializing in DUI, Drug Charges & Criminal Defense
Starting and ending one year to begin with another, everyone always celebrates the “new beginning.” The year 2024 is over, so we are all staying up to celebrate. Whether we are going out with friends or spending time on the water on Lake Lanier for their lake time fireworks, just celebrating the returned peach drop in Underground Atlanta, or watching the ball drop in NYC on TV at another location or a party, many of us will be enjoying adult beverages and then driving home. With all the celebrations, it may be difficult to remember to keep track of your drinks or even worry about them. However, officers on the road are still out looking for DUI drivers.
All police use the tools in their experience and training to stop a vehicle. Speeding and Failure to Maintain lanes are “violations” that typically lead the offers into a DUI investigation. The scenario is usually you are driving, see blue lights, and are pulled over by the officer or Trooper. Then the officer details the reason for stopping you, saying, “You were having some issues maintaining your lane, OR do you know how fast you were going?” Then the officer says, “I smell alcohol. Have you been drinking?” (Like we are going to confess “Sure, officer I was slamming back cocktails just before I met you.”) Both of these charges are used in a high percentage of stops for DUI arrests in Georgia, and many times, they are found together. Couple this with an inability to remember the actual number of drinks you have, and you are in the middle of a perfect storm for the officer investigating the DUI stop. It doesn’t matter where you find yourself in Georgia. Almost all of the police forces use this common charge to begin a DUI investigation, including Johns Creek Police, Alpharetta Police, Milton Police, DeKalb County Police, City of Decatur Police, Atlanta Police, Gwinnett County Police, and the list goes on. This “tool” allows the police to stop a vehicle for any “legal” reason, and their investigation can lead to a DUI if they suspect the driver has been drinking or using drugs.
As a result of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety teaming up with various organizations, including the HEAT and TEAM division of local counties, the cops are cracking down on impaired driving.
If the police have accused you of driving under the influence, then you need help from a trained DUI attorney. If you don’t want to face the court alone or feel that you need help from an attorney, call our office regarding your citations. There are facts to every case where defenses can be raised for anyone charged with driving under the influence. Each situation differs from the other and requires evaluating all the information to properly mount a defense and effectively negotiate with the prosecutor’s office. Remember that every DUI case is different because not two facts are identical. Applying the above case law to your situation would take an examination of the facts surrounding your case and using this case law correctly to create an adequately mounted defense for YOUR arrest.
Our office has 24-hour response lines and can answer and help with your questions. Give our team of DUI defense lawyers a call at 404-445-8494. We can help you mount a proper defense for your situation.
