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DUI Lawyer Dekalb County - DUI News - Former Atlanta NFL Star Arrested for DUI

Richard Lawson — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 01:20:00 GMT

According to the AJC, Former Atlanta Falcon Star Jamal Anderson was arrested for DUI in Dekalb County GA on June 25, 2012. Unfortunately this was not his first brush with the law. He had been previously arrested in 2009.

Like anyone else arrested for a Dekalb County DUI, he will be prosecuted in the Dekalb County State Court. He will also need to send an 10 Day letter in order to have an ALS Hearing.

He will need to hire an Dekalb County DUI Attorney in order to challenge the evidence in his case such as a breath, blood, or urine test and any field sobriey tests.

He has a right to hire the attorney of his choice. A Dekalb County DUI Attorney will be able to represent him in court and negotiate a plea bargain or have a bench or jury trial.

After his attorney sends a 10 day letter, he will have an ALS hearing. At the ALS hearing his lawyer will negotiate a settlement that will allow him to drive during the pendency of his case. The ALS Heating is extremely important. Without a 10 day letter, he will lose his ability to drive for up to one year.

At his arraignment he will enter his initial plea. If he enters a not guilty plea, his Dekalb Lawyer will file motions to suppress the evidence and motions for discovery in order to get the police report and video.

The next step will be his pre-trial motions hearings. After the pre-trail motions, he will make the final decision to enter into a plea bargain or to fight the case with a trial. The decision to have a trial or to plead out should only be made after speaking to a Dekalb County DUI Lawyer.

If he goes to trial he may be found not guilty or guilty. If he is found not guilty the judge will enter into the record a judgment of acquittal. If convicted, he will have the right to appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals and even the Georgia Supreme Court.

If you are arrested for DUI in Dekalb County, call a Dekalb County DUI Attorney today. Call DUI Lawyer Richard Lawson 24/7 for a free consultation.

Former DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney Busted for DUI

Richard Lawson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:09:00 GMT

Recently, attorney Jennifer Little, a former DeKalb County assistant distrct attorney, was arrested for DUI. Ms. Little just left her position as a prosecutor earlier this year to enter private practice. She was traveling north on Buford Highway in the early morning hours going an alleged 91mph - far exceeding the speed limit. Upon being stopped, she pulled out her expired Dekalb County District Attorney card to show to the officer. She then refused to take any field sobriety tests and anybreath or blood tests. Attorney Little's law firm was recently retained to represent Andrea Sneiderman, the widow in the Dunwoody, GA day care shooting case. Attorney Little is also the former President of the DeKalb County Bar association. She was arrested and has been charged with misdemeanor DUI and is out on bond. She should have an arraingment date pending in the State Court of DeKalb County within the next couple of months. As a result of her refusing the breath test, she should face a one year suspension of her driver's licesne for not complying with the officers request.

First DUI Charge - Clayton County

Richard Lawson — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:14:00 GMT

DUI cases are typically prosecuted for Clayton County in Jonesboro at the Clayton County State Court. Tasha Mosely is the elected solicitor general and she has several attorneys who work for her as prosecuting attorneys. They are tough on DUI are it is rare that they dismiss one, even if they have a weak case against the driver. For a first time DUI offender, they typically charge fines and fees - including probation fees of nearly $50 per month - that total in the thousands of dollars. You can face jail time and loss of your Georgia drivers license. Probation is almost always required and along with it come conditions such as community service, DUI school, and alcohol and drug assessments and counseling. No one has to plead guilty to a DUI and many times, especially for first time DUI drivers, people want to fight their cases. Our Clayton County DUI lawyers take cases to trial and protect your rights. We can help you get the best possible results on your Clayton Co. DUI case. Call us today for a free case analysis.

UGA Football Star Charged with DUI

Richard Lawson — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:16:00 GMT

Former UGA star football player Orson Charles was arrested on Friday in Athens for DUI. According to the DUI report, Charles car was stopped in the street around 3am. When the officer approached to see if everything was okay with the vehicle and driver, Mr. Charles began to drive. This triggered a DUI investigation. According to the reports, Charles complied with DUI field sobriety testing and agreed to take a breath test that yielded an over the limit result. He was arrested and taken to the jail where he bonded out shortly thereafter. He is currently awaiting his arraignment date in which he will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. An over the limit breath test can also lead to an administrative suspension of his Georgia drivers license. If Orson Charles is convicted of DUI, this will go on his record forever according to current GA law. It can mean jail time and probation as well as fines, classes, and counseling.

DUI is serious business throughout the state of Georgia. In DeKalb County, there is a highly specialized DUI task force that has extensive training in DUI detection and arrests. DeKalb DUI officers patrol daily for drivers committing traffic offenses. If they smell the odor of alcohol or see another clue consistent with alcohol or drug use, they will likely ask the driver to submit to the field sobriety tests that Orson Charles took. If they observe too many "clues" on these tests, they will place the driver under arrest for DUI. In addition to DeKalb's DUI task force, other DeKalb cities are tough with the DUI enforcement. The DeKalb municipalities of Doraville and Dunwoody in particular are aggressive in their DUI law enforcement.

If you are facing a DeKalb County DUI offense, including a Doraville DUI or a Dunwoody DUI, call our DeKalb DUI defense law office today. If you want the best results on your case, don't hesitate to contact us for a free case consultation.

DeKalb Driver Charged with DUI, Vehicular Homicide

Richard Lawson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:28:00 GMT

A DeKalb County woman, 22 year old Chasity Nicole Jones, was arrested and charged last month with serious DUI charges and vehicular homicide after an accident in which she fatally struck Atlanta police officer Gail Thomas. Officer Thomas, a 15 year veteran, was working a traffic accident when she was struck by Ms. Jones' vehicle and killed. Officer Thomas was 46 years old.

Ms. Jones was suspected of being DUI at the time of the incident and took a roadside breath test that registered twice the legal limit, a .16, according to reports. A search warrant was obtained after Ms. Jones refused to take a follow up state adminstered test of her blood or breath. The search warrant allowed DUI officers to take a sample of Ms. Jones blood at Grady hospital to test for drugs and alcohol. The results of such blood test are still pending.

Ms. Jones was denied bond on the felony charges and remains in jail awaiting a hearing before a Superior Court judge. The DUI prosecuting attorney informed the magistrate court at her initial bond hearing that Ms. Jones has been cited 6 times in the past 5 years for traffic offenses such as speeding and improper lane changes.

Ms. Jones is facing long term jail time for these offenses. A DeKalb County DUI lawyer can help. Attorney Richard Lawson and his attorneys have experience in DeKalb County getting their clients the best possible results on their cases. If you are facing a DeKalb Co. DUI, call our lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

Republican State Representative Arrested for DUI

Richard Lawson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:44:00 GMT

Republican State Representative Kip Smith was arrested in Atlanta recently for driving under the influence ( DUI ). Atlanta DUI officer Kramer observed Smith's gold Jaguar XJ8 run a red light and initiated a traffic stop. Upon speaking to Smith, Officer Kramer noticed that Smith smelled of alcohol. Smith, first denied drinking alcohol, but later changed his answer and said he had a beer prior to driving. Representative Smith consented to field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. According to reports, Smith took the breath test and tested over the legal limit for a driver over 21. He was charged with three offense - two charges for DUI and one for failure to obey a traffic control device. He is out on bond and awaiting an arraignment date.

Atlanta DUI officers, prosecuting attorneys and judges are hard on DUI offenders. Even a first time DUI comes with jail time, fines, fees, probation, license suspension and other sanctions. A good DUI lawyer can help you fight your case and protect your rights. If you are facing a DUI charge or violation of your DUI probation, call our DeKalb County DUI attorneys today for a free consultation. Our attorneys regularly fight cases in Dekalb County and Clayton County and get our clients the best possible results on their legal matters. When you have so much on the line, don't risk less than the best. Call now to speak to a DeKalb DUI lawyer.

Smoking Bans Lead to More DUI?

Richard Lawson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:20:00 GMT

This time of year - with New Years Eve just a few days off - and lots of holiday parties and festivities to partake in, DeKalb DUI officers stay quite busy stopping drivers and arresting them for possession and DUI related offenses. I recently came across a study from the Journal of Public Economics regarding drunk drivings relationship with smoking bans in bars. As we all know, smoking and drinking often go together. While smoking bans in many cities have been enacted to reduce the ill effects of second hand smoke, the unintended consequence appears to be more DUI. It seems that smokers have been willing to drive further distances to bars and music venues where they are allowed to smoke. The result is a longer trip home and additional time behind the wheel. Researchers Scott Adams and Chad Cotti of the University of Wisconsin found that smoking bans increased alcohol related deaths by 13% in large counties.

So be very careful if you leave a New Years Party to go smoke a cigarette. DeKalb County DUI officers as well as the DUI officers from DeKalb cities such as Decatur and Doraville are out watching the streets.

If you find yourself needing the assitance of a DUI or criminal defense attorney, do not hesitate to call our DeKalb County DUI lawyers today. We can help you get the best results on your legal matter.

The list goes on...more celebrities arrested for DUI offenses

Richard Lawson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:55:00 GMT

I try to keep up with DUI arrests in the news. The list just goes on and on from prominent politicians (George W. Bush) to socialites (Khloe Kardashian) to athletes (Hines Ward). So many people arrested for DUI in DeKalb County or Decatur, GA feel ashamed, embarrased and alone. You are really not alone. DeKalb County DUI officers make thousands of arrests each year. You have options and no one has to plead guilty to a DUI. You are entitled to a trial by jury and all the rights that come with it including a presumption of innocence and the requirement that the DeKalb County DUI prosecuting attorneys prove the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. But back to DUI arrests in the news in recent months.

Former pro hockey player and current ESPN analyst Matthew Barnaby was arrested for DUI recently in New York. DUI officers pulled Barnaby over for allegedly driving his porsche on 3 tires with sparks flying. He participated in field sobriety tests, but, according to reports, refused to take the state administered breath test. If this had happened in DeKalb County, he would be facing a one year suspension of his Georgia driving privileges for that refusal.

A former Hannah Montana star, Mitchell Musso, was arrested in California for DUI. Musso is 20 years old and tested, per reports, over the .08 DUI breath test limit.

Also facing a DUI arrest in the past few weeks was Ryan Merriman. Merriman, an actor, perhaps best known for starring in Final Destination 3, was pulled over for running a red light in Newport Beach, CA. Upon stopping him for the traffic infraction, the DUI officers suspected him of DUI and an arrest was made.

DeKalb County prosecutors are tough on DUI. But DUI lawyers from my office win cases (and get reductions to reckless driving) all the time. Call me today for a free Decatur / DeKalb DUI consultation.

Field Sobriety Tests in the News

Richard Lawson — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:53:00 GMT

Field Sobriety Tests are making news in DeKalb County. Channel 2 Action News investigated the standard field sobriety tests that DeKalb County DUI officers administer to those suspected of DUI. Typically, a Dekalb area motorist is stopped by a DUI officer for a traffic violation. Then an investigation begins and the DeKalb DUI officer asks the driver to step out of the vehicle and tells them that they want to make sure they are safe to drive. They ask to administer field sobriety tests. Many DeKalb, GA drivers say yes. You have likley seen people taking tests on the side of the road late at night. You may have even had to undergo them yourself. You were likely nervous, but nerves and anxiety are overlooked by zealous DUI officers. These tests are designed to fail - you are asked to take heel to toe steps and stand on one foot - tasks that are difficult for many people under the best conditions. Later, these test results will be used against you in a DUI prosecution.

If you have been arrested for a DeKalb DUI, call DeKalb DUI lawyer Richard Lawson for a case consult. He can answer your questions about field sobriety tests, breath tests, and DUI defenses and consequences.

Doraville Police Officer Accused of DUI

Richard Lawson — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:17:00 GMT

Last weekend, a City of Doraville DUI officer was himself arrested for DUI following a motor vehicle accident. Doraville DUI Officer Kasey Lindsey was placed on leave after the incident and has now been terminated from the Doraville police force.

DeKalb County DUI officers responded to a wreck last week on Memorial Drive. Mr. Lindsay told responding officers that he had fallen asleep while driving. He had rear ended another vehicle. While investigating the incident, DeKalb Co. DUI officers allegedly smelled the odor of alcohol coming from Lindsay. He admitted that he had been drinking at a Doraville strip club prior to driving. The DeKalb officers had Lindsay perform field sobreity tests, which he failed. Later, Lindsay submitted to a breath test and blew a reported .15, nearly twice the legal BAC level in Georgia.

In addition, to losing his position as a Doraville police officer, Lindsay is facing charges for DUI, following too closely, not having valid registration and no proof of insuarance.

A DUI when a wreck and injuries are involved is generally considered more serious and can even be charged as a felony DUI, though Lindsay's charges are all misdemeanors.

Both Doraville and DeKalb County law enforcement officers are tough on DUI and the consequnces, even for a first lifetime DUI, are severe. If you or a loved one are facing DUI charges, call DeKalb DUI lawyer Richard Lawson's office for a free case consultation. Our office is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week to answer your DeKalb County and Doraville DUI questions.

DeKalb County DUI Trials (2)

Richard Lawson — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:46:00 GMT

Most DUI offenses in DeKalb County are misdemeanors. However, if you have had prior DUIs, you may be charged with a felony. You may also be considered a habitual violator (which is a felony) if you have had numerous prior traffic convictions. Serious accidents or injuries by vehicle involving drunk or impaired driving can also be charged as a felony DeKalb DUI. So can child - endangerment DUIs, even if it is your first DUI in your lifetime. While a misdemeanor DUI is harsh enough, a repeat DUI or felony DUI is even tougher. Lengthy jail sentences, multi-year Georgia drivers license suspensions, and thousands of dollars in fines and fees are normal. This can cause those convicted of such a DeKalb DUI to lose their job and not be able to take care of their families.

A good DeKalb Co. DUI lawyer can help. There are many ways that a skilled DeKalb DUI lawyer can successfully advocate on your behalf and defend your case. If you want the best results, call the best DUI lawyer. Attorney Richard Lawson has been aggressively fighting DeKalb DUI cases for years. Lawson and his staff of dedicated attorneys get their DUI clients great results. Some attorneys are jacks of all trades. They do a little DUI along with family law, bankruptcy, personal injury, you name it. Not so with Attorney Lawson. DUI is his business and he is always up to date on the current Supreme Court Decisions and technical developments. If getting the best results matter to you, call DeKalb DUI lawyer Richard Lawson now for a free case evaluation.

DeKalb County DUI Trials (1)

Richard Lawson — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:32:00 GMT

DeKalb County DUI prosecuting attorneys rarely reduce DUI cases to reckless driving. Even more rarely do they just dismiss or drop a DeKalb DUI. And DeKalb County has Star Team officers who arrest drivers for DUI every night. This means that there are usually just two options for a person facing a DeKalb Co. DUI case. Either work out a plea bargain in which consequences - like jail time, probation conditions, and fines - are minimized; OR fight the case to keep it off your record. Attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard Lawson have experience fighting DUI charges and beating them. The best DeKalb DUI lawyers will file Motions on your behalf. These include discovery and disclosure motions that require the state prosecuting attorneys and officers to turn over copies of all their evidence - like breath test results, video and audio recordings, and police and supplemental reports. Then there are motions for the suppression of certain evidence. If the officer did not follow procedure, then there are ways to get evidence like breath test results and field sobriety test results, as well as statements, like admissions of drinking, excluded from the jury trial.

For first time DeKalb DUI defendants, the DUI charges are usually a misdemeanor. They will generally be heard in the State Court of DeKalb County and prosecuted by attorneys at the Office of the Solicitor General. The jury for a misdemeanor is composed of 6 people.

Please see the next blog - DeKalb DUI Trials (2) - for further information.

If you are facing a DeKalb DUI,call DeKalb DUI lawyer Ricahrd Lawson and his team for a comprehensive case consultation.

Football Star Hines Ward Arrested for DUI in DeKalb County

Richard Lawson — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:03:00 GMT

Early Saturday morning, around 2:30 a.m., Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol - DUI - in DeKalb County, GA. He was reportedly taken to the DeKalb County jail and released on a $1,000 bond. Ward played football for the University of Georgia and owns a home in the Atlanta area.

The police officer allegedly observed Ward's vehicle not maintaining his lane and hitting against the curb. Ward was reportedly cooperative and submitted to field sobriety testing. He told officers he was returning from a club and had a couple of drinks. However, once placed under arrest from DUI, Ward refused to submit to a breathalyzer.

Ward's manager released a statement that Ward was not driving under the influence. Ward has had encounters with DeKalb law enforcement officers in the past. In 2006, he was charged with speeding and reckless driving in DeKalb County. He plead guilty to speeding and the reckless driving charge was dismissed.

Ward is risking a one year suspension of his Georgia driving privileges. As Ward also resides in Pittsburgh, he may not hold a Georgia license.  The state of Georgia only has the ability to suspend a Georgia drivers license, but may suspend the ability to operate a vehicle in the state of Georgia for an out of state licensee.

If a driver refuses a breath or blood test when accused of DUI by a DeKalb County officer, Georgia Department of Driving Services ( DDS ) may suspend the license for one year without any temporary or limited driving permits available. Within ten days of the date of the DUI arrest, the accused driver may appeal the suspension of his or her drivers license and will receive an administrative license suspension ( ALS ) hearing.

Ward will also have to go to Court in DeKalb County for his arraignment. At arraignment he will formally enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. A guilty plea is a conviction for DUI. If this is Ward's first DUI conviction, he will face potential jail time, probation, hefty fines and court costs, a license suspension for one year, community service, alcohol and drug testing and counseling, and other terms of probation. In addition, a DUI conviction stays on ones record forever and is not eligible for expungement at a later date. It causes many drivers to be dropped from their auto insurance, or at the least, to see a significant increase in their premiums.

If Ward enters a plea of not guilty at arraignment, he will likely file motions for discovery and suppression. He will also begin his preparations for trial while at the same time, continue to plea bargain with DeKalb County DUI prosecutors. At trial, prosecuting attorneys will have to prove the Ward was driving the vehicle and the was an impaired driver due to alcohol intoxication. They will have to prove that the alleged poor driving the officer claims to have observed - failing to maintain lane and hitting the curb - were the result of being drunk. Ward had a passenger in car who was determined to not be under he influence and was allowed to drive the car from the scene following Ward's arrest. There were no children in the car and there was not an accident. That is a good thing as those conditions can elevate the punishments upon conviction and even get the case to be accused as a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

If it goes to a jury trial (as opposed to a bench trial before a judge), the jury decides the issue of guilty or not guilty. If not guilty, that is the end of the case. If guilty, the judge determines the sentence. Typically, the sentence the judge gives upon conviction is more severe than what is offered by DeKalb County prosecuting lawyers prior to trial.

There are many potential defenses to DUI offenses in Georgia. A skilled DUI attorney can examine the issues - from the initial police stop through the field sobriety testing and subsequent arrest. In this case, Mr. Ward refused the breath test, which while having severe license suspension implications, also means the state has no over the limit breath test to use against him. They have to rely on police observations such as the odor of alcohol, the drivers admissions to drinking, the drivers speech and eyes, and how the driver performed on the field sobriety tests in order to convict. Mr. Ward has the right to testify or to not testify on his own behalf.

ADeKalb County DUI defense lawyer can help you sort through all these issues and mount a strong defense to the charges. An arrest alone does not mean a conviction. DUI cases are fought and won in DeKalb County GA all the time. If you or a loved one is facing a DUI in the Atlanta or Decatur area, call DeKalb DUI defense attorney Richard Lawson for a free case analysis. Mr. Lawson and his team of lawyers have had years of experience getting their clients the best possible outcomes on their DeKalb Co. DUI charges. Mr. Lawson devotes his practice to the aggressive defense of DUI cases. So if you need a lawyer who gets results, call our office as soon as possible following your DeKalb DUI arrest. Saving your Georgia drivers license may depend on it and the sooner we talk, the sooner we can begin to preserve evidence and mount a defense.

Dunwoody Probation Violations

Richard Lawson — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:30:00 GMT

Each month, the prosecuting attorneys and judges for the city of Dunwoody see to it that defendants who are convicted at trial or enter a guilty plea are put on probation. Typically, probation that results from a Dunwoody plea is 12 months or longer, depending on the number of charges or counts the offender is charged with. Each ticket / citation or offense that you are charged with generally carries a 12 month sentence. This stack together in most cases. So if you are charged by a Dunwoody prosecuting attorney with driving under the influence ( DUI ) as well as given a citation for failure to maintain lane, the prosecuting attorney can stack the sentences under Georgia law. This means that there would be 24 months of probation.

Probation is an alternative to jail, but it can be problematic and VERY expensive. Probation requires you to pay - pay supervision fees, for drug and alcohol screens, for DUI school, for alcohol and drug assessments, for counseling, as well as for the high fines and court costs assessed during the case. A new offense, even a ticket, that it issued or that you are arrested for is a violation of probation and can lead to you going to jail without a bond being available. It can be months waiting to have a trial to contest the new charges. Plus, violation of probation is a charge in and of itself under Georgia law. Some probation officers are very quick to charge people with violations of probation and revoke them to jail.

If you are facing a problem with your probation or a probation violation, call a Dunwoody probation lawyer today.

Marijuana Cases

Richard Lawson — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:19:00 GMT

Marijuana is illegal. In the municipality of Dunwoody, you can be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana ( DUI - drugs ), possession of marijuana, or possession of marijuana related objects. All of these offenses are typically misdemeanors, but they carry some pretty significant penalties including a 6 month (or longer) suspension of your drivers license as well as jail time, hefty fines, drug counseling and probation. If a Dunwoody law enforcement officer charges you with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute or possession of marijuana greater than one ounce, you will be charged with a felony. In addition, based on your record ( such as if you are a repeat offender ), you may be charged with a felony for the DUI charge.

There are many strategies that can assist you in getting the DUI and possession of marijuana charges reduced or beaten. An experienced Dunwoody possession of marijuana lawyer can help. If you or someone you care about is facing a driving under the influence of drugs or marijuana case, call the attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard S. Lawson today for a free consultation. Mr. Lawson has helped thousands of clients get the best possible outcome on their DUI and marijuana cases. He is a former DUI prosecutor and experienced DUI defense lawyer.