Drunk driving causes many traffic accidents and deaths each year. Modern technology seeks to address this issue by tracking drivers. Unfortunately, however, this also raises numerous legal considerations.
New detection technologies could reduce DUIs by enabling law enforcement officers to immediately identify drunk drivers on the spot, but they also raise Fourth Amendment concerns about unreasonable searches and seizures.
Level 1
Driving under the influence is a serious offense in Georgia, with penalties that include fines and jail time for first-time offenders. Therefore, all DUI allegations must be taken seriously by all individuals charged of DUI offenses, regardless of previous history.
Police officers in Roswell are always keeping an eye out for drunk drivers, encouraging citizens to report any they suspect might be impaired by alcohol or drugs. When pulling someone over suspected of DUI, officers typically request they undergo field sobriety tests – physical tests that measure balance, dexterity and motor control in an effort to evaluate any impairment that might exist in their body.
An administrative license suspension (ALS) results from being charged with DUI. If a driver does not appear for court on their scheduled court date, then they could face arrest warrants issued by judges or being required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. An experienced DUI lawyer like Jim Yeargan of Roswell can help protect you against these possible outcomes; contact him anytime day or night about your case!
Level 2
Georgia treats DUI offenses seriously, even for first-time offenders. A Roswell DUI conviction may bring jail time and financial penalties as well as have lasting repercussions for employment opportunities and accessing affordable auto insurance rates.
Roswell police officers are trained to recognize signs of impaired driving and make DUI arrests when they suspect alcohol or drug consumption while driving. A first time DUI conviction may also lead to community service hours, driver education classes, and license suspension.
At the time of a traffic stop, police may require that you submit to a field sobriety test. While these exams typically have high success rates, sometimes they’re administered improperly or inaccurately – if this occurs to you, the lawyers of Jim Yeargan can assist in challenging them in court as needed.
As soon as you’re pulled over for DUI, there is a 30-day window in which to request an Administrative License Suspension Hearing with Jim Yeargan’s office to preserve your rights and keep your license from suspension. Contact our team immediately to see how our experts can protect them for you!
Level 3
State officials take DUI charges very seriously, and being arrested again could carry severe repercussions, including jail time, probation, community service hours, mandatory alcohol education programs and permanent marks on your criminal record. For this reason it is critical that you enlist an experienced Roswell DUI lawyer in your corner.
An effective Roswell DUI lawyer understands the nuances of both the legal system and local court proceedings, so they can provide invaluable insight that will protect your rights and achieve the most positive results possible. An attorney may determine whether there were valid grounds for stopping your vehicle and administering breathalyzer test, as well as evaluate if said test was conducted accurately and precisely.
Your Roswell DUI lawyer can conduct a detailed investigation and develop a strong defense strategy, challenging evidence collected illegally or improperly and revealing any mistakes during arrest or subsequent interrogations procedures.
Level 4
Roswell is an affluent city located in suburban north Fulton County and an arrest for DUI can have severe legal repercussions ranging from your license suspension to job and financial instability.
Roswell DUI attorneys can help protect your rights and fight charges filed against you by accessing technological recordings of your arrest as well as police reports filed in your case by officers in charge. This information will allow your lawyer to assess if protocols were followed correctly during the arrest as well as whether your rights were in any way violated during that process.
For instances involving drunk or drugged driving accidents that result in someone else’s death, cases will typically be taken up before Vehicular Homicide Court and sentencing will typically involve completion of a 20-hour Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program (RRP).
Level 5
The Office of Professional Standards oversees internal investigations, research and planning as well as accreditation and selection processes. Officers within this unit can often be seen at local events, schools and business presentations speaking with Roswell citizens on various topics.
Novel BAC detectors have been around for about a decade, but new legislation gives police permission to use them as legal justification to stop and investigate DUI incidents. The device looks similar to a flashlight; when placed between five and 10 inches from a driver’s mouth it measures their blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Another technology which may one day help end drunk driving is one which monitors a driver’s eyes to see if they become distracted or impaired and then shuts down the engine automatically. Unfortunately, however, research on this technology is ongoing and its implementation won’t happen before 2024/2025; moreover, this wouldn’t differentiate between driver BAC levels and passengers’ levels; which can make justifying traffic stops difficult, while cyber criminals could use such vehicles to commit crimes.
