Aaron Carter Arrested For DUI in Georgia

Pop singer Aaron Carter is currently facing a handful of misdemeanor charges in Georgia's Habersham County. These include DUI, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. In an ironic turn of events, Carter was filmed last Monday in Tampa, Florida offering his opinion about fellow celebrity Shia LaBeouf's recent arrest for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. "You won't catch me getting any DUIs, I don't have any DUIs,” the former said in the video later obtained by TMZ.

Accompanied by girlfriend Madison Parker, Carter was detained by law enforcement at approximately 9 pm eastern time in Habersham, 87 miles north of Atlanta. According to the Habersham Sheriff's Office, Parker was charged with possession of marijuana, obstruction of law enforcement officers and possession of drug-related objects. Carter posted bail on Sunday; although Parker was eligible for bail, she has not yet been released for what a sheriff's office spokesman called “unknown reasons.”

In a tweet posted Sunday evening from Carter's Twitter account, two screenshots from Apple's Notes application detail the incident. Carter allegedly noted that his newly fitted tire “went out of alignment.” He then “drove the vehicle to the nearest Auto Zone… [where] he was arrested inside by several police officers with aggression. The police also revoked his rights to have an attorney. Aaron holds a medical license for medical marijuana for his long standing anxiety. He feels his “celebrity” was targeted and an attorney will be retained in this matter. The video from Auto Zone will prove that Aaron was not in a moving vehicle while arrested and charged with DUI.” The note went on to apologize for “any inconvenience this legal matter may have caused his fans along the tour dates he has not been able to make.”

Carter's brother Nick, of Backstreet Boys fame, tweeted a message in support of his younger sibling. "To my brother: I love u no matter what & if u feel the need to reach for help, I am here and willing to help you get better,” Nick wrote. “Family isn't always easy, we're all here for you.” Carter did not take kindly to the gesture, responding in a statement "If my own blood truly cared about my well-being, why wouldn't he call me directly and have a conversation instead of making this about him through a very public forum?”

Celebrity familial feuds aside - medical marijuana is legal under Georgia law provided the user can provide a license. The law specifies 14 conditions for which the drug may be used, however, anxiety is not among them.

Given the length of time THC takes to metabolize, it is not illegal to have marijuana in your system while driving in Georgia. Even in cases where an officer smells the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle or notes circumstantial signs of marijuana impairment, such as red eyes or a lethargic manner of speech, there is no case in which a driver is automatically guilty or has no hope of winning. Testing positive for metabolites does not necessarily mean the driver was impaired. The outcome of Carter's case will depend on his unique circumstance and the prowess of his lawyer.

If you or a loved has been charged with driving under the influence of marijuana or alcohol in Dekalb County, you must contact a skilled Dekalb County DUI attorney immediately to represent you in court. Do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Richard Lawson for a free consultation today.