Over the weekend, police arrested an Athens man after they suspected the man of drinking and driving. Police said that the man was pulled over after he failed to stop for a stop sign.
Driving through a stop sign is a dangerous mistake that drivers should never make. However, this type of mistake can easily be made when drivers are distracted or simply don’t notice a traffic sign. The driver may have missed the stop sign as a result of being distracted, but after police conducted a traffic stop, they apparently had reason to believe that the driver was drunk. Reports have not stated why police suspected the man of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
According to Athens-Clarke County Police, the 27-year-old man was arrested on Sunday evening shortly before midnight. Although the man faces serious penalties for allegedly driving drunk, the man was charged with other serious offenses that could result in additional penalties.
In addition to being charged with DUI and failing to stop at a stop sign, the man has also been charged with possession of marijuana as well as entering jail with drugs, which is a felony. Police said that they asked the man about whether he had any drugs on him when they arrested him, and the man claimed that he did not. After the man was taken to the Clarke County Jail, he was searched and authorities discovered the marijuana.
According to police, the man’s blood-alcohol content was more than 0.15. This means the man’s driver’s license could be suspended for at least six months. He could also face jail time for the offenses and may even be required to pay fines.
When folks face several serious offenses after an arrest, they may be able to reach an agreement to have some of the charges reduced or dismissed, especially when folks have never been accused of breaking the law before. In order to learn more about how to best proceed with a criminal case in court, defendants may want to consider working with an experienced DUI defense attorney.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald, “DUI leads to drug charges for Athens man,” Jan. 14, 2013
- Our Athens, Georgia, firm provides counsel to those who are at risk of having their driver’s licenses suspended as a result of being arrested for DUI. To learn more about our firm and practice, please visit our firm’s driver’s license suspension page.