COVID effects Labor Day weekend including DUI arrests
By Michael D. Barber, Georgia Lawyer specializing in DUI, Drug Charges & Criminal Defense
With everything that has happened in 2020 and the recent restrictions beginning to ease up, drivers need to be even more cautious while celebrating Labor Day.
The pandemic is still ongoing, but according to the Georgia State Patrol, Accidents and DUI Arrests are up significantly from this labor day weekend when compared with prior holiday weekends. With all that is going on it may be difficult to remember to keep track of your drinks or even worry about it. However, the officers on the road are still out looking for DUI drivers, even on Labor Day weekend.
All police use some of the various available charges to stop a vehicle, and Failure to Maintain lane is just one that typically leads to a DUI investigation. The scenario is usually you are driving see blue lights and the officer details out the reason for stopping you, or pulling you over, is that he “saw your wheels cross over the line of your lane.” This charge of Failure to Maintain Lane is found in a high percentage of the stops for DUI arrests in Georgia. The inability to remember the actual number of drinks you have is another key to an officers investigation that they absolutely make a note of for use against you later.
The numbers are up significantly. Georgia State Patrol reported that this year there were 309 DUI arrests (compared to 244 last year) and (19 deaths compared to 10 last year). The patrol stated that many of the DUI investigations came from around Atlanta (Fulton and DeKalb County), Cobb County, and Suwanee (Gwinnett County).
It doesn’t matter where you find yourself in Georgia almost all of the police force 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 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 you have been accused by the police of driving under the influence then you need help from a trained DUI attorney. Should YOU find that you either don’t want to face the court alone or simply feel that you need help from an attorney then give our office a call regarding your citations. There are facts to every case where defenses can be raised for anyone charged with driving under the influence. Each situation is different from the other and requires a evaluation of all the information in order to properly mount a defense and a effective negotiation with the prosecutor’s office. Remember that every DUI case is different because not two sets of facts are the same. Application of the above case law to your situation would take examination of the facts surrounding your case and applying this case law properly to create a properly mounted defense for YOUR arrest.
Our office has 24 hour response lines and can answer your questions and help you. Give our team of DUI defense lawyers a call at 404-445-8494. We can help you mount a proper defense for your situation.
