Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Are DWI Records Public in Georgia? Short Answer: Yes Yes. In Georgia these records are generally public. Anyone can obtain arrest records, court dockets, and driving history reports from the appropriate state or county agency. Georgia law uses the term DUI, short for driving under the influence. Plenty of people say DWI instead. Both words…

What Does Driving While Impaired Mean? Driving while impaired means you operate a motor vehicle while alcohol or drugs diminish your mental or physical abilities. The substance can be illegal, it can come from a doctor, or it can come off a store shelf, and a mix of two counts as well. The key point…

What Is a Misdemeanor? A misdemeanor is a criminal offense. It ranks below a felony but above a civil infraction. Most courts punish a misdemeanor with up to one year in county jail. They can also add fines, probation, or community service. Even a minor criminal charge can follow you for years. A felony conviction…

How Georgia Handles DUI License Suspensions In Georgia, you can lose your license after even a first DUI conviction. Each later offense brings a longer suspension. A second conviction within five years brings a three-year suspension. A third triggers a five-year revocation and habitual violator status. A fourth within ten years is charged as a…

Is Attempted Theft a Crime in Georgia? Yes, attempted theft is a crime in Georgia. Many people wonder if attempted theft qualifies as a crime when no property was actually taken. The answer is clear: Georgia law makes it a crime to take a substantial step in an attempt to commit theft, even if you…

Do Warrants Expire in Georgia? Warrants in Georgia generally do not expire. An active warrant is entered in the databases police query, including the federal system behind an NCIC warrant search, and remains in effect until law enforcement serves it, the issuing judge recalls it, or the subject dies. There is no built-in clock that…

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Your Son's DUI Arrest Getting that phone call is frightening. Your son has been arrested for DUI in Georgia, and you need to act quickly – but calmly. The decisions you make in the next 24 hours can shape the outcome of the entire case. Stay…

What It Means to Be Charged With DUI but Not Jailed in Georgia If you got a DUI but did not go to jail, the case is not over. Being released after a DUI arrest takes several forms. You may have posted bond, been released on your own recognizance, or had a judge set conditions…

Bail vs. Bond: What They Mean in Georgia Bail is the amount of money a judge sets to secure a defendant's release from jail before trial. A bond is the method used to post that bail. Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they describe different parts of the same process. People often search for…

What Is an Open Carry Permit? An open carry permit is a state-issued license that lets a person carry a firearm in plain sight, usually in a belt holster or a shoulder rig rather than hidden under clothing. Open carry is the opposite of concealed carry, where the firearm must stay out of view. Some…