Operating a vehicle safely on our Georgia roads takes a certain level of skill, but most importantly, drivers must always remain attentive when behind the wheel in order to avoid causing a minor or serious car crash. One mistake, like failing to notice a stop sign or forgetting to check one’s blind spot, could result in an accident.
After nearly hitting an Athens-Clarke County Police officer’s vehicle earlier this month, a University of Georgia student admitted that he simply “wasn’t paying attention” when he failed to yield to the officer’s car. The student was cited for the offense, but he was also arrested after the officer suspected the student of underage DUI.
The student was arrested after the traffic stop on Nov. 16. Although drivers make simple but dangerous errors every day when they become distracted, the officer suspected that the UGA student had failed to yield to the officer’s vehicle as a result of being intoxicated.
According to the officer’s arrest report, the student had suddenly pulled out in front of the officer’s vehicle on College Station Road. The officer was able to quickly brake in order to avoid hitting the student’s car. The student was pulled over for the traffic offense. While the driver was speaking with the officer about the incident, the officer reported that the odor of alcohol was detected.
The student, who is under the age of 21, was arrested and charged with DUI and underage possession or consumption of alcohol. The Red & Black reported that the student did request to speak with an attorney after the incident.
Source: The Red & Black, “UGA student pulls out in front of officer, charged with DUI,” Cailin O’Brien, Nov. 16, 2012
- Our firm provides counsel to those who want to fight underage DUI charges and other alcohol-related offenses. To learn more about our firm and practice, please visit our Athens, Georgia, underage DUI defense page.