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It’s OK to feel disoriented if a law enforcement officer pulls you over and asks if you’ve been drinking. It’s a nerve-wracking situation, and you don’t want to inadvertently say or do the wrong thing because you’re nervous.
One particular part of the law has recently become more clear, however. Because of a 2019 court ruling, you can refuse to take a breathalyzer test – and choosing to do so can not be used against you in court.
Sometimes it seems like alcohol is available just about everywhere -- from hair salons to dentists' offices and beyond. Unfortunately, in low-income areas, it can often be easier to find a liquor store than a grocery store.
However, there's also a distinctly contradictory trend emerging in this country -- alcohol-free social gathering spots. There are even "sober bars" where people can get together with friends to visit or watch a game without alcohol. Some concerts and other events have substance-free zones designated with yellow balloons.
Unless you happen to be driving on a road where a DUI checkpoint has been set up, officers need to have a reasonable suspicion that a driver is impaired in order to pull them over for suspected DUI.
Once a driver has been stopped, officers can administer a Breathalyzer test and other field sobriety tests to more accurately determine whether they're intoxicated. However, if an officer didn't have an adequate cause to have reasonable suspicion, any evidence obtained after the stop could be tossed out -- along with the case.
One of the most often repeated tips for intoxicated party goers is to have a designated driver on hand in case they drink a little too much. You could take turns in your friend group to see who should lay off the cocktails that night or see if there are any family members or friends nearby who can give you a ride.
However, you and your friends aren’t completely safe yet. If an officer forces your group to pull over, you can still get in trouble even if your designated driver was sober. It is important for you and your friends to understand what laws you may break depending on your driver choice during your night out.
Many Americans can't imagine celebrating the Fourth of July without alcohol. Beer, wine and stronger beverages are a part of many pool parties, backyard barbecues and fireworks celebrations.
Too often, people lose track of how much they've had to drink over the course of a Fourth of July celebration. They may get behind the wheel thinking that they can safely drive (and maybe they can). However, if they're pulled over by one of the many law enforcement officers on the roads that day, they can find themselves over the legal limit and under arrest.
University of Georgia football fans have not been able to consume alcohol openly in Sanford Stadium unless they were one of the lucky few who had seats in a skybox or private suite. Beginning next year, however, Bulldogs supporters may be able to buy alcohol inside the stadium.
Late last month, the chancellors and presidents of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) overturned the ban on alcohol sales within athletic facilities. They voted to allow universities to establish their own individual alcohol policies, although only beer and wine can be sold. The new policy will be effective Aug. 1.
Georgia’s DUI laws have a reputation for being especially strict, whether rightly or wrongly.
The best way to stay out of their way, of course, is to drive sober. It’s also critical to know your rights in any traffic stop and remember that legal representation is one of those rights.
You don't have to drive a car, truck or even a motorcycle to be arrested for DUI. One Bolingbroke man learned that lesson the hard way. He was arrested on April 25 when he drove his lawnmower to a local gas station to buy beer.
According to the Monroe County sheriff, the man was arrested at a gas station located off GA Highway 19 South. Apparently, someone saw him driving the lawnmower down the highway and called the sheriff's office because they believed he was intoxicated. The sheriff says that sometimes situations aren't what witnesses describe. However, in this case, "the caller was exactly right -- there was an intoxicated man on a lawnmower driving down the road."
As the summer approaches, you’ll start seeing more police cars hiding on the sides of the roads during the latter hours of the day. The hottest months of the year is one of the most dangerous times for drivers for various reasons. One of those reasons is the number of drivers guilty of DUI around this time.
Many officers that pull over suspected DUI drivers do so at night. Summer has plenty of holidays and eventful weekends that encourage many Georgia residents to spend a few extra hours at the bar, so these are the prime times to catch intoxicated motorists.
If you're the parent of a teen, it's probably no surprise to learn that they're more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs for the first time in June and July than in any other months. In fact, they may be more than twice as likely to try one or both for the first time during those summer months. That's according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Increased free time, more parties and lack of adult supervision during the summer can all lead to more exposure to illegal substances -- including alcohol, which is illegal in Georgia, with just a few exceptions, for those under 21.
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